The common bacterial blight of common beans (CBCF), a disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans (Xapf), significantly reduces grain yield and seed quality. Because this bacterium is mainly disseminated through infected seeds, efficient detection of Xap and Xapf is important to assure the productivity and quality of the crop. In this study, various techniques that included different extraction techniques (two different incubation times, with and without centrifugation) and five culture media (Kado 523, GYCA, MXP, NSA, and PTSA) were tested for the detection of the seed-borne inoculum, using three different seed samples. Overnight incubation of the seeds, followed by centrifugation and incubation in Kado 523 resulted in higher extraction of Xap and Xapf. The best extraction technique was overnight incubation followed by centrifugation, and the best medium was PTSA. Among the tested culture media, PTSA provided better identification and counting of the bacterial colonies, thus allowing the quantification of the seed infection levels.
seed pathology; bacterial extraction; culture media; dry beans