A Foliar Disease of Fittonia verschaffeltii Caused by a Pathovar of Xanthomonas campestris. J. H. Blake, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, 1453 Fifield Hall, University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville 32611. A. R. Chase, and G. W. Simone. Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, IFAS, Central Florida Research and Education Center, 2807 Binion Road, Apopka 32703; and Associate Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, 1403 Fifield Hall, University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville 32611. Plant Dis. 73:269-272. Accepted for publication 18 November 1988. Copyright 1989 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-73-0269.

A foliar disease of Fittonia verschaffeltii (nerve plant) has been observed in several central Florida nurseries. A pathovar of Xanthomonas campestris caused veinal necrosis on fully expanded leaves of all cultivars and marginal necrosis on some plants. Strains of this pathovar from F. verschaffeltii infected Aphelandra squarrosa, Crossandra infundibuliformis, Stenandrium lindenii, Xantheranthemum igneum, Pachystachys lutea, and Ruellia brittoniana (members of the Acanthaceae). The bacterium had a wide host range and caused symptoms similar to those caused by xanthomonads found on plants in eight other families.