How do bacterial pathogens cause vascular wilt in plants?

Bacterial pathogens cause vascular wilt in plants by invading the plant's vascular system. Once inside, the bacteria multiply and create a blockage within the xylem, which is the tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant.1

This obstruction prevents the normal translocation of water and nutrients to the rest of the plant, leading to symptoms such as drooping, wilting, stunting, and potentially the death of the aerial plant structures. When infected stems are cut, discolored water-conducting tissue is often visible, and a bacterial ooze may be evident upon squeezing the stem. Common examples of plants affected by this process include tobacco, tomato, potato, eggplant, sweet corn, and various cucurbits.213