Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

The etiology of a leafspot disease of pearl millet in Zim! babwe was investigated using Koch|s postulates[ Bipolaris sp[\ Exserohilum sp[\ and bacteria\ were isolated from lesions but only bacterial isolates produced the orig! inal symptoms following inoculation of a susceptible pearl millet line\ 741B[ Biochemical and physiological tests\ including LOPAT\ indicated the bacterium was the ~uorescent pseudomonad\ Pseudomonas syrin`ae[ This represents the _rst report of P[ syrin`ae on pearl millet in Africa[