It is a plant pathogen, causing both bacterial leaf streak of maize (corn) and sugarcane gumming disease.

It is not currently a quarantine pathogen in any country, but it has already spread outside its native range and is highly adaptable to different environments.

Similar Xanthomonas pathogens are spread via wind-blown water droplets, irrigation, agricultural machinery and movement of infected plants.

[3] Like other members of the Xanthomonas genus, it forms yellow colonies when grown on agar and secretes abundant xanthan exopolysaccharides.

Visible symptoms are long thin lesions that run parallel to the leaf vein and have wavy or jagged margins.

Secretion of exopolysaccharides leads to gumming and vascular ooze which blocks the flow of water and nutrients through the plant.