XANTHOMONAS-CAMPESTRIS PV OBSCURAE PV NOV CAUSAL AGENT OF LEAF-BLIGHTOF IPOMOEA-OBSCURA IN INDIA

Ipomoea obscura is an important weed of crop plant, grass land and for est. Several methods are under trial to control this weed. A new bacte rium causing leaf blight disease to that host was recorded for the fir st time. The disease-causing bacterium was isolated and its characteri stics were studied. The bacterium was infective to Ipomoea obscura und er natural conditions and to Ipomoea muricata and Ipomoea purpurea und er artificial inoculation conditions. The pathogen was named as Xantho monas campestris pv. obscurae on the basis of morphological, biochemic al, physiological and host range studies. This pathogen may be used as bio-control agent of Ipomoea obscura in future.