Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris
smuggled hogwash triggered by the bacteriumXanthomonas campestrispv.campestris(Xcc ) is a highly destructive disease of crucifers , let in turnip . In fact , the disease was first identify on turnips in 1893 and stay a severe trouble today .
The pathogen propagate easily between plants and can survive on infested industrial plant material in the dirt for years if buried deeply . It can affect other cole crops including close Brassica rapa relatives in speciesBrassica rapasuch as bok choy as well as close cousin within speciesBrassica oleraceasuch as cabbage .
Since this disease takes a while to show symptoms and can spread before you live your plants are taint , bar is critical – peculiarly for organic growers .

Black rot (Xanthomonas campestris) damage to a turnip leaf. Photo via Shutterstock.
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Starting with clean seed is all important . If you ca n’t buy heat energy - deal turnip come , you could regale them with raging water yourself before implant .
We will delineate the symptoms of this insidious disease and describe the method you may habituate to forestall contagion .

Black rot (Xanthomonas campestris) damage to a turnip leaf. Photo via Shutterstock.
What You Will Learn
How Black Rot Spreads
The bacteria do not necessitate wound to infect a plant . They oftentimes enter through the water pore ( hydathodes ) on the margin of the leaf that exude sap in the aurora .
However , any wound can provide ways for the bacteria to enter the plant . These admit wounds from hail , dirt ball alimentation , or mechanically skillful injury .
Xcc is spread so easily that experts counsel against working in your fields when they are wet . The bacteria be splosh by rain or spread by wind , machinery , animals , or insects . The being can also be disseminated in irrigation or drainage water .

Once inside the plant , the bacteria can become systemic and infect the vein of the turnip plants .
The organism thrives in warm , humid weather – temperature of 75 - 95 F are optimal for the bedspread of the disease .
Xcc can survive in infected plant life cloth in the soil for up to two calendar month and even years if the stuff is deep buried . The pathogen also survives in cruciferous weeds like wild mustard or shepherd ’s purse .

If it has infect a nursery , Xcc can hold out on constituent matter , weed , tools , benches , and even nooks and fissure .
Symptoms
It can take as long as 14 days for an infected flora to show symptoms , by which clip it is too late to save the plant .
What complicates matters is that the symptoms can alter in dissimilar plants – even in unlike cultivars – plants of different age and even under differing environmental factors .
Infected seedling will be infected systemically . The first reading of infection is typically yellowing of the low-pitched leaves . The disease will come on , causing the seedlings to prematurely drop their leaves and croak .

V - form lesions on the edge of the leaves of fledged plants are usual and are characteristic for black putrefaction . The base of the fin will be along the vein .
The veins will be discolored initially , and then they will plough brownish or black – hence , the name black rot .
The whole plant life will drop dead and can serve as a root of inoculum to infect other plants .
How to Prevent Black Rot
Since black rot spreads so easy once it has infested a field and is so difficult to control , prevent it from entering your crop is critical to managing this disease .
This is more easily done if you live in an sphere such as upstate New York that has stale winter . If you live in an area with warm winters , you have a much higher endangerment of maintain the pathogen in your soil .
1. Plant Clean Seed
Since the bacteria can hold out in seed under the seed coat ( which means that blanching agent treatment wo n’t kill them ) , planting with infect seeds is a common way that growers end up with a severe disgraceful rot contagion .
If you could not find rut - care for Brassica rapa ejaculate , you could handle them yourself by soaking them for 15 minutes in water that is 122 F. The Ohio State University providesdetailed instructions on how to do this .
2. Rotate with Non-Crucifers
Since the pathogen that causes opprobrious rot can go on wild or cultivated crucifer and in the soil , maturate a non - cruciferous crop on the ground you used for your turnips for four years . This will clean the grunge .
3. Use Clean Transplants
If you develop your own transplanting , unsex your greenhouse ! Disinfect your benches and tools . If you recycle your flatbed , disinfect them , too . If you use compost , make certain that you did n’t use any diseased plants when you create it .
Keep the leaf of your seedlings as ironical as you may , and do not prune or sweep wet plants .
4. Reduce Wetness During the Growing Season
irrigate your works in the morning , so that the leaf will dry out while it is still lite . Increase the spacing among them , and point your rows with the prevailing winds .
Avoid sprinkler irrigation systems , since they can cause weewee to splash – a common mode of spreading black bunkum .
Treating Infected Crops
If your plant do have this infection , you could strain to prevent it from spreading to all of your industrial plant by using a chemical compound that kill bacterium .
Spray 0.5 to 7.5 pounds of copper hydroxide per Accho , such as the mathematical product Kocide 3000 .
Consider adding Actigard ™ ( acibenzolar - S - methyl ) to the cop . This compound stimulate the plant ’s resistant system and can assist to prevent uninfected plant from contracting the disease .
Prevention is the Best Control
Since smuggled rot is such a devastating disease and can take cargo hold without present symptom for up to two week , forbid it from becoming established is your best bet to oversee this disease .
Planting clean ejaculate is of paramount importance and go along your plants as dry as possible and free of weeds will help to preclude black rot from becoming constitute in your turnip plant .
If they do get infect , you may spray a bactericidal compound like bull to keep it from spreading further .
You should also rotate with a non - cruciferous harvest for four age to prevent the disease from yield to imperil your turnips .
And if you arestill depend for more turnip disease indentification and treatments , see if any of these are of assistance :
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About
Helga George , PhD