[1] The pathogen was initially discovered to be coincidentally associated with symptoms of pecan fungal leaf scorch in 1998[2] and has subsequently been found to be endemic in the southeastern United States, as well as Arizona, California, and New Mexico.
[citation needed] Symptoms of pecan bacterial leaf scorch become apparent in late spring, with browning and necrosis of terminal leaflets.
[5] There are other causes of similar symptoms, such as pecan scorch mites and drought stress, thus a laboratory analysis is recommended when diagnosing the disease.
This technique is only recommended for the initial infections in an orchard, on trees displaying terminal symptoms (i.e. far from the trunk), and is not guaranteed to eliminate the pathogen.
Known insect vectors can be monitored through yellow sticky cards or traps, and when populations are sufficiently high, insecticide sprays can be commenced to reduce the chance of disease spread.