SUSCEPTIBILITY OF PEPPER FRUIT TO INFECTION BY XANTHOMONAS-CAMPESTRISPV VESICATORIA

Effects of fruit size and wounding from sand abrasion on infection of Pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruit by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicator ia were determined in the greenhouse. Fruit inoculated when less than 15 mm in diameter usually abscised before disease severity could be as sessed. As fruit diameter increased from 15-25 mm to >55 mm, the incid ence of lesions on wounded and unwounded fruit declined. Few lesions d eveloped on fruit larger than 55 mm. In all size classes, lesions were more frequent on wounded than on unwounded fruit, particularly on fru it less than 40 mm in diameter.