Considering the lack of information in literature about the pathogenic variability of Brazilian isolates of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, a study was carried out to determine the pathogenic specificity of 33 isolates of this bacterium originated from several regions of Brazil and overseas to eight different Brassica species, through inoculation by means of injection of the bacterial suspension in leaves. From these isolates, 12 were obtained from collard greens (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), nine from cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata), five from cauliflower (B. oleracea var. botrytis), two from canola (B. napus), one from broccoli (B. oleracea var. italica), one from Chinese cabbage (B. chinensis), one from kohlrabi (B. oleracea var. gongylodes) and two from radish (Raphanus sativus). The pathogenicity of the bacterium isolates to the tested hosts indicated that 14 of them were not specific and originated symptoms on all inoculated plants. The other 19 isolates had showed relative degrees of specificity and did not cause disease in one or more of the tested brassicas.
Black rot disease of crucifers; brassicas; pathogenic variability; cross-inoculation
