AbstractDisease symptomsSymptoms include water‐soaked areas surrounded by chlorosis turning into necrotic spots on all aerial parts of plants. On tomato fruits, small, water‐soaked, or slightly raised pale‐green spots with greenish‐white halos are formed, ultimately becoming dark brown and slightly sunken with a scabby or wart‐like surface.Host rangeMain and economically important hosts include different types of tomatoes and peppers. Alternative solanaceous and nonsolanaceous hosts include Datura spp., Hyoscyamus spp., Lycium spp., Nicotiana rustica, Physalis spp., Solanum spp., Amaranthus lividus, Emilia fosbergii, Euphorbia heterophylla, Nicandra physaloides, Physalis pubescens, Sida glomerata, and Solanum americanum.Taxonomic status of the pathogenDomain, Bacteria; phylum, Proteobacteria; class, Gammaproteobacteria; order, Xanthomonadales; family, Xanthomonadaceae; genus, Xanthomonas; species, X. euvesicatoria, X. hortorum, X. vesicatoria.Synonyms (nonpreferred scientific names)Bacterium exitiosum, Bacterium vesicatorium, Phytomonas exitiosa, Phytomonas vesicatoria, Pseudomonas exitiosa, Pseudomonas gardneri, Pseudomonas vesicatoria, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, Xanthomonas cynarae pv. gardneri, Xanthomonas gardneri, Xanthomonas perforans.Microbiological propertiesColonies are gram‐negative, oxidase‐negative, and catalase‐positive and have oxidative metabolism. Pale‐yellow domed circular colonies of 1–2 mm in diameter grow on general culture media.DistributionThe bacteria are widespread in Africa, Brazil, Canada and the USA, Australia, eastern Europe, and south‐east Asia. Occurrence in western Europe is restricted.Phytosanitary categorizationA2 no. 157, EU Annex designation II/A2.EPPO codesXANTEU, XANTGA, XANTPF, XANTVE.