Bacterial Speck
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato · bacteria
- Issue type
- disease
- Seedborne
- Yes, travels on seed
- Resistance code
- Pst
- Affects
- Tomato
Symptoms
Tiny dark specks with yellow halos on leaves and pinpoint raised black specks on green fruit that persist to harvest. Favors cool wet spring weather, then stalls in heat.
Management
The Pto resistance gene (code Pst) in many hybrids controls race 0 outright. Otherwise: clean seed, rotation, and copper early, the disease is cosmetic on fruit but defoliating in bad springs.
Varieties with documented resistance
No commercial varieties in the database carry documented resistance to this issue, management is cultural and (for seedborne pathogens) starts with tested, certified seed.
Sources & References
Evidence: 1 source, all independent references.
- Vegetable MD Online · Cornell University, Plant Pathology, University or Government