This document summarizes a study that aimed to understand the correlation between populations of the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola and symptom development on infected cowpea plants. Fourteen cowpea seed lots from different sources were tested, some treated with different fungicides. The initial pathogen populations from seeds were quantified and population buildup over time was monitored from leaf and stem samples. Results showed no correlation between pathogen population levels and disease incidence or severity. The study recommends assessing pathogen populations alongside disease incidence rather than severity to better understand disease epidemiology.