Bacterial onion blight

Bacterial onion blight

Close up of infected leaf. Note the tan lesions and water-soaked appearance. Image: Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

  • also called Xanthomonas leaf blight
  • caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii
  • known to infect onion (Allium cepa L.), garlic (A. sativum L.), Welsh onion (A. fistulosum L.), shallot (A. cepa var. ascalonicum Backer), chive (A. schoenoprasum L.) and leek (A. porrum L.)
  • yield losses from reduced bulb size and quality of up to 100 per cent are reported, mainly due to loss of photosynthetic area
  • plants can also be stunted
  • spread by infested soil, plant material and seed

High priority pest of: Onions

Scientific name: Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii
EPPRD Category:
Life Form: Bacteria

Pest Documents

FS: fact sheet

CP: contingency plan

DP: diagnostic protocol