Completed project
Management and detection of bacterial leaf spot in capsicum and chilli crops (VG14010)
Publication date: November 6, 2018
Delivery Partner: The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Beginning in 2015 and ending in 2018, this project aimed to increase the capacity of the vegetable industry to develop integrated disease management programs for bacterial leaf spot of capsicum and chili field crops. As tomato was considered an alternative host for the leaf spot pathogens, investigation of the causal agents of the disease in tomato was also completed.
The research developed a new understanding of the pathogens behind bacterial leaf spot…
In regard to disease management…
Other work in the project included a literature review on survival of bacterial leaf spot pathogens between cropping cycles, which highlighted the importance of using disease-free planting material. Survival of the bacterial pathogens in the environment was found to be quite low and disease outbreaks found to be more likely initiated from primary introduction of the pathogen each season, rather than transfer of the bacterium from sources within the environment. The researchers also note that ongoing international trade in seed, together with the high seed-transmissibility of Xanthomonads, increases the risk of co-importation of new races or species into Australia.
One of the project’s major recommendations for the management of bacterial leaf spot – apart from the use of resistant lines where possible – includes heat treatment of seed to prevent primary introduction of pathogens into crops and to mitigate the risk of introduction of new bacterial races, which may circumvent existing plant host resistance genes.
The project produced the below fact sheets:
This project was a strategic levy investment in the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund
© 2026 Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited.
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