bacterial wilt

Bacterial wilt is a plant disease caused by various bacteria, including species from the genera Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas. This disease typically causes stunting, wilting, and withering, often beginning with the younger leaves of a plant. Infected stems may shrivel and show discolored, water-conducting tissues, and a bacterial ooze can often be seen when cut.1

Management strategies for bacterial wilt include planting resistant varieties, using disease-free materials in well-drained soil, and practicing good sanitation, such as weed and insect control, along with crop rotation. Tobacco wilt, a specific type, is caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas solanacearum.12