Monitoring the occurrence of bacterial spot of tomato and pepper in the Czech Republic and development of new PCR primers for detection of Xanthomonas vesicatoria

We tested 212 bacterial isolates isolated from tomato and pepper plants suspected of being infected by Xanthomonas vesicatoria (causing bacterial spot). Samples from plants were collected in the years 2007-2010 from fields located in central Bohemia and central and south Moravia. For detection of the pathogens we used PCR with two previously published primer pairs (RST65, RST69 and XCVF, XCVR) and one primer pair (Xv1, Xv2) designed for specific detection of Xanthomonas vesicatoria. In total, 121 of 212 (57 %) samples were positive in PCR. In this article we provide data for additional verification of the newly designed (Xv1, Xv2) primers. Our results confirm the need of precise detection methods, because several tomato and pepper pathogens can share similar visual symptoms. We also suggest, that new PCR primers for detection of bacterial spot of tomato and pepper pathogens should not be overlooked, because they can improve currently used PCR assays for detection of these pathogens.