Quit "gummying" around.. here are some true facts

 This is the amazing picture which is also located at the top of the screen as the main template for this website.  This is truly an incredible picture catching Xanthomonas campestris physically being sprayed out of freshly cut veins of an infected birdsrape mustard (Brassica rapa L.).  This picture not only shows the mechanism that this pathogenic bacterium uses for transmission but also the magnitude of how invasive this disease really is.  Truly fascinating.  Thank you Paul Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, for taking this amazing photo!

There are many different kinds of disease that cause destruction of the vegetable crops in the crucifer family besides just Xanthomonas campestris.  For instance, a very similar Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium known as the peppery leaf spot disease, Pseudomonas syringae, expresses symptoms that resemble those of black rot.







Xanthomonas campestris is identified as a Gram-negative, yellow-pigmented bacterium.  Its single strait rod measures in around 0.4-0.7 micrometer wide and 0.7-1.8 micrometers long.  Xcc tend to grow colonies that are usually yellow, smooth and viscid.


Xanthan gum comes into the food industry at a expensive rate, compared to cornstarch at $0.89 per pound, xanthan gum is around $7 per pound.  There is a huge contraversy on why it is so highly prices but that is explained through the mechanical expenses that are needed to derive xanthan gum from Xanthomonas campestris and produce a purified additive sample.  Also to further backup and encourage the use of xanthan gum, individual use of xanthan gum is very minimal.  The amount of xanthan gum needed for personal dishes and preparation is very little.  So keep in mind that "a little goes a long way" when thinking of xanthan gum.

Not only is infection of black rot seen within the leaves but there is also detection of black rot moving into the curds of the crucifers.   When the curds are infected they become a yellowish-brown color.

   

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

What an amazing journey this microscopic pathogenic bacteria has gone through to become the thriving organisms that it is.  Trying to grasp the concept that this deadly plant pathogen is actually a health food additive used throughout our food industry is at times difficult, so make sure to check out the real experts to get even more clarification!

-- HOME -- REFERENCES -- CONTACT ME -- MULTIPLE ORGANISMS --