What Is It? | Facts in Depth | For the Professional Diagnostician
M. L. Lewis Ivey & S. A. Miller
Bacterial speck is caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. Although the disease can be problematic in the Midwest is has not caused significant damage in recent years. The bacterial pathogen favors cool and wet weather conditions. Leaf symptoms are similar to those of bacterial leaf spot. On the fruit, small, superficial spots begin to form on green fruit giving the fruit a black stippling appearance. The disease can be effectively managed by using integrated pest management strategies
Available Fact Sheets (pdf)
English: Bacterial Speck Fact Sheet
Español: Peca Bacteriana Del Tomate
Scientific Names
Two pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae cause bacterial speck of tomato:
- Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato
- Pseudomonas syrinage pv. syringae
Host Crops
- Tomato, Field
- Bell Pepper
