bacterial blight, vine bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas ampelina, so serious that it has led some Greek and French growers to abandon stricken vineyards. This disease shows its presence by retarding and killing young shoots. It is spread by rain and also by pruning tools. It can be controlled by removing and destroying infected plants and by disinfecting pruning tools between vines, as well as by copper sprays.
© Jancis Robinson and Oxford University Press 1994, 1999, 2006, 2015
