ABSTRACT

 A field experiment was conducted during the 2005 cropping season at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Screen house. Seven varieties of sweet pepper (capsicum annuum L) were screened for bacterial diseases. The experimental layout was RCBD with three replications. The varieties were raised in pots and transplanted after two weeks to the field at a distance of 0.5m X 0.5m. Infected leaves and stems were collected from the field and taken to the laboratory for isolation and identification of the causal organisms. Results obtained showed that two organisms were involved, yellow and cream colonies. Some preliminary and biochemical tests were carried out for proper characterization and identification of the causal organisms. These included Gram stain reaction, potassium hydroxide (KOH) solubility test and glucose utilization test. Pathogenicity test was also carried out to establish the proof for pathogenicity of the isolated organisms. From the results, the organisms were found to be pathogenic on pepper and identified as Xanthornonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Doige and Pseudomonas solanacearum. All the seven varieties were found to be susceptible to the diseases. However, the varieties DMAN-2 (5.5) and AJTZ-1 (4.5) were found to be more susceptible than the other varieties (P0.05) incase of the leaf spot caused by X. campestris pv vesicatoria while WTS-1 (80.3) and AJTZ-1 (70.4) values were significantly different from that of other varieties (P 0.05) for the wilt disease caused by P. solanacearum. AJTZ-1 was found to be the best in terms of fruit yield while AJTZ-3 was the least.