Protection Methods

- During cultivation

In France, this bacterial disease is quite difficult to manage because it occurs late during the tobacco growing season making any chemical control impossible. The use of bacteriocides  such as copper * or antibiotics is not feasible. Also, one should be aware that strains resistant to copper and streptomycin have been reported on celery in Florida, USA.

It seems obvious, knowing the biology of this bacterium, that one must avoid irrigation with sprinklers whenever  possible, or in cases that sprinklers are used, irrigate in the morning rather than in the evening, so that the plants dry during the day.

The affected leaves are strongly depreciated after curing and for this reason, one should avoid hanging too damaged tobacco plants.

- Next crop

This bacterial disease does not pose a big risk for future crops. Crop rotations implemented proactively to delay the onset of soil-borne diseases  should help in  limiting the spread of this bacterial disease as well . Indeed, rotations of three years, recommended on other crops, seem to be effective.

Currently, Pseudomonas cichorii occurs only rarely in France, and thus specific preventive methods are not necessary.