The bacterium can be isolated and cultured on growth medium . Morphological, cultural, biochemical characteristics. Mainly affects the pluriannual crops. The parts of the affected plants above the ground wilt and dry out progressively starting from the outermost leaves. This cosmopolitan species can survive in the soil freely or on decaying infected debris or even in the pupa of .
Infection occurs through wounds.
These become hosts for other proteolytic microorganisms which cause the fetid smell. The irrigation water is the main carrier of inoculum from plant to plant and from field to field. Appropriate rotations to avoid the too frequent occurence of the crop in the same field. Use healthy shoots from uninfected crops or treated with coppery products.