Copper Tolerance in Australian Populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Contributes to Poor Field Control of Bacterial Spot of Pepper.

Many Australian pepper producers have reported poor control of bacterial spot of pepper (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria) despite using copper bactericides at recommended rates. This prompted us to investigate whether copper-tolerant strains of the pathogen are present in Australia and whether they are a contributing factor to poor control.