Bacterial Diseases of Pepper in Yugoslavia

During the last decade, bacterial diseases appeared to be a serious problem in the production of pepper (Capsicum annuum L) in Yugoslavia (3, 8). In some years, numerous greasy or necrotic spots and blight symptoms were observed on cotyledons of pepper transplants grown in hotbeds and plastic tunnels at the beginning of the season. At the end of June and beginning of July, small necrotic spots, surrounded by a weak halo, were frequently noticed on the leaves of pepper grown in an open field. These spots tend to coalesce, causing leaf blight and premature abscission. Scabby spots, irregular in shape, were rarely noticed on diseased fruits. However, soft rot of pepper fruits usually appeared after heavy rainfall followed by wind and hail.