Bacterial blight (Angular leaf spot)

Bacterial leaf blight

Photo by OP Sharma, NCIPM, New Delhi, India, Bugwood.org

  • Hypervirulent strains found in North Africa
  • Risk is from new strains establishing to which the local cotton varieties have little or no resistance
  • Angular water-soaked lesions on leaves, stems and bolls
  • Severe infestations lead to defoliation
  • Stems show ‘black arm’ symptom, bolls unable to open
  • Look for Bacterial blight symptoms on varieties that should be resistant
  • Spread by rain-splash, in seed and plant material

High priority pest of: Cotton

Scientific name: Xanthomonas citri subsp. malvacearum
EPPRD Category: 3
Life Form: Bacteria

Pest Documents

FS: fact sheet

CP: contingency plan

DP: diagnostic protocol