This bacterium is commonly associated with plants of all kinds and can be cultured from soil and surface water. Fields previously cropped to potato or cabbage are reported to have higher populations of Erwinia in the soil. Bacterial soft rot is primarily a post-harvest problem in the northeast, except when fruit is injured by insects. Bacterial contamination begins in the field and washing the fruit can spread the bacterium and provide it with easy access to wounds, especially at the stem-end. The stem offers a natural wound by which the bacterium can enter the fruit.
Fruit infected by Erwinia develops a slimy rot.
The rot spreads quickly and within several days the entire fruit may collapse from rot. There are no chemical controls that can be used in the field to prevent Erwinia soft rot from developing. However, the bacterium can only enter the fruit through a wound so care should be taken during harvesting and washing. Peppers picked during the heat of the day should not be subjected to cold water since this would allow water and surface contaminants like Erwinia to be drawn into the fruit. Root-knot, lesion and stubby root nematodes occasionally cause problems in peppers.