Anthurium blight is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestrsis pv. dieffenbachia. It was first reported on anthuriums in Brazil in 1960. Bacterial Blight affecting anthurium plants was first observed on Kaua'i in 1971. In 1979 bacterial blight was observed on Oahu by backyard growers. The disease was first reported on the Island of Hawai'i in July 1980 by a commercial grower in Mt. View. It has also been reported in Florida and California in the United States and most anthurium producing countries throughout the world.

  In the Kaua'i outbreak, the disease was limited to one cultivar, "Kansako Red" and to an isolated greenhouse.

  However in the 1979 outbreak, most cultivars appeared to be susceptible and infection was not limited to leaves and spathe. The bacterium recovered from all parts of the plants appeared systemic. Once infection reaches the stem the plant usually dies.

  The bacterium causes disease in anthurium by entering natural openings or through wounds. Bacteria multiply and move best in water. The disease and its symptoms are more severe during warm wet weather conditions, usually found in commercial anthurium fields in Hawai'i. The disease is called "Blight" because of the rapid killing of the plant tissue.

  Two main types of symptoms caused by the bacterium were, the foliar or leaf symptoms, that occur when infection begins in the leaf or spathe. The second is the systemic or vascular symptoms that occur when the bacterium establishes itself in the stem and spreads to other parts of the plant.