The Use of Dry-Leaf Inoculum for Establishment of Common Bacterial Blight of Beans

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Inoculum of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, causal agent of common bacterial blight of beans [Phaseolus vulgaris] was prepared from dried diseased bean leaves collected from greenhouse- or field-grown plants. Viable colony-forming units in the dry-leafinoculum were quantified on general and selective media. Pathogenic strains of X. c. pv. phaseoli were recovered from dry-leaf inoculum stored for up to 6 yr. The efficacy of dry-leaf inoculum for establishing common blight epidermic in the field was compared to that of an aqueous cell suspension in tests with a susceptible and resistant bean cultivar. Dry-leaf inoculum was applied to seed at planting or to plants at two stages of growth. Symptom severities in plants inoculated with the dry-leaf inoculum were similar to those of plants inoculated with aqueous cell suspensions. Symptom severity varied with inoculation method, but the expected cultivar reaction to the disease was observed after inoculation with dry-leaf inoculum or the aqueous cell suspensin. Dry-leaf inoculum provides a simple, rapid, and effective technique for inoculating beans with X. c. pv. phaseoli, particularly where laboratory facilities are limited.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: