New Disease of Pellionia and Pilea spp. Caused by Xanthomonas campestris. John W. Miller, Plant Pathologist, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry, P.O. Box 1269, Gainesville 32602. A. R. Chase, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, IFAS, Agricultural Research and Education Center, 2807 Binion Road, Apopka 32703. Plant Dis. 70:346-348. Accepted for publication 23 October 1985. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-346.

Since about 1975, a bacterial disease of Pilea and Pellionia spp. caused by a species of Xanthomonas has increased in severity in Florida. Cross-inoculations with strains from these two genera as well as several pathovars of Xanthomonas campestris from other foliage plant hosts showed that the new pathogen was pathogenic only on species of Pilea and Pellionia tested. The bacterium conformed to the physiological and biochemical characteristics of X. campestris.