Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Cassava bacterial blight (173)


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Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. In most cassava-growing countries. On cassava and relatives. A very important bacterial disease.
  • Angular dark spots on leaves, with creamy ooze, bordered by veins; the spots expand, merge and form large rots. Bacteria inside the leaves travel to the stems blocking water flow; leaves wilt, die and fall.
  • Spread in wind and rain, in cuttings and on tools.
  • Cultural control: take cuttings only from healthy plantations; do not plant new plots next to old; 1-2-year crop rotation; clean tools after use (bleach); collect and burn trash after harvest; resistant varieties (see SPC CePaCT for those available).
  • Chemical control: none recommended.

Common Name

Cassava bacterial blight

Scientific Name

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis. Previously, it was known as Xanthomonas. campestris pv. manihotis, and in Palau is it recorded as Bacterium robici, a much older name.


AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information (and Photo 3) CABI (2020) Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (cassava bacterial blight). Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/56952).

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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