E.U.  Opara, F.J.C.  Odibo, 
    Studies and Characterization of Bacterial Spot Pathogen of Tomato <I>Xanthomonas campestris</I> PV <I>Vesicatoria</I>,
    Journal of Molecular Genetics,
    Volume 1,Issue 2,
    2009,
    Pages 35-43,
    ISSN 2070-4267,
    jmolgene.2009.35.43,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jmolgene.2009.35.43)
    Abstract: Investigation was conducted in the laboratory to characterize, identify and determine the strains of bacteria responsible for bacterial spot disease of tomato in humid tropics of South Eastern Nigeria. The bacteria were isolated from infected tomato plant; leaf, fruit and seed and subjected to some standard bacteriological tests. The results of the cultural, physiological and biochemical analyses obtained showed that the bacteria isolated from bacterial spot lesions of tomato fruits, leaves and seed were gram negative, yellow aerobic rod shaped bacteria with a polar flagella. The bacteria colonies exhibited strong starch hydrolysis, metabolized glucose and produced acid from arabinose, sucrose and cellobiose but not from ducitol or sorbitol. Also nitrite was not reduced to nitrite based on bacteriological characteristics, the bacteria strains were identified as <I>Xanthomonas campestris</I> pv. <I>vesicatoria</I> (ex Doidge). The pathogens were found to be influenced by temperature with optimum temperature of 30-32&deg;C but little or no growth at 20 and 45&deg;C.
    Keywords: Isolation;Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria;bacterial spot;physiological and biochemical analysis