Which organism is responsible for causing common blight?

Common blight is caused by a bacterium known as Xanthomonas campestris. This bacterial pathogen primarily affects crops like beans and pea plants, leading to symptoms such as water-soaked lesions on leaves that eventually turn brown. The bacterium can spread through contaminated seed, wind-driven rain, and plant-to-plant contact, making it crucial to manage conditions that favor its proliferation.

Understanding the role of the bacterium in plant disease highlights the importance of using proper sanitation practices, resistant varieties, and crop rotation to manage and reduce the incidence of common blight. Effective pest management strategies need to address the specific life cycle and transmission methods of bacterial pathogens, which differ significantly from those of fungi, viruses, or nematodes. While the other organisms listed can also affect crops, they are not responsible for common blight.