Recently a new symptomatology on cotton plants (cv. Makina, IAC 24 and Deltaopal) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum (Xam) was observed in São Paulo state, Brazil, and named "bacterial leaf blight". The symptom was characterized by leaf blight, generally exhibiting chlorotic haloes and sometimes showing V-shaped lesions beginning at the leaves' border. Strains of Xam responsible for typical angular leaf spots and bacterial leaf blight were compared through pathological, biochemical, serological, cultural and RFLP-PCR tests of the 16S-23S spacer region. Independently of the symptom type, the strains exhibited characteristics and profiles that were identical to those exhibited by the type strain, which confirms the isolates identity Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum
cotton bacteriosis; Gossypium hirsutum
