Identification and antagonistic bacterium screening of the pathogen causing peach bacterial leaf spot in Hebei Province, China

Abstract Peach leaf diseases have detrimental effects on the healthy growth of peach worldwide. In Hebei Province, China, the prevalence of peach leaf diseases has been progressively increasing, imposing a serious threat to the industry's healthy development and causing various economic losses. This study identified Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni as the pathogen of peach bacterial leaf spot in Hebei Province. Bacillus methylotrophicus strain MCTR‐5 was identified as an effective antagonistic bacterium against X . arboricola pv. pruni . Notably, 80% ethylicin and 0.3% tetramycin displayed a robust inhibitory effect on X . arboricola pv. pruni . These findings present a novel approach to controlling peach bacterial leaf spot in Hebei Province, serving as the groundwork for developing a green prevention and control mechanism for commercial peach orchards.