Bacterial diseases

Bacteria cause some of the most serious diseases of crop plants throughout the world, but are particularly important in tropical and subtropical regions where conditions of humidity and warmth promote pathogen growth and dispersal. In these regions, the effects of disease can be widespread and sometimes catastrophic, leading to substantial yield losses. In this article, the major groups of bacterial plant pathogens are described with their classification and the types of disease that they elicit. Following this, the bacterial factors that contribute to the ability to cause disease and the mechanisms underlying pathogenesis are reviewed. Finally prospects are assessed for disease control based upon our current understanding of the molecular biology of plant disease and disease resistance.