Pod twist: A previously unrecorded bacterial disease of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

A disease which causes blighting and twisting of the pods of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is described for the first time. Repeated isolations from infected tissues and pure culture inoculation show that the causal organism is a member of the Schizomycetes. In the field, transmission is effected by the bean thrips (Taeniothrips nigricornis Schmutz) and by no other apparent means. Glasshouse experiments in which these thrips were shown
to be capable of carrying infection to healthy plants are described. A pure culture study of the causal organism shows it to be a new species of the genus Pseudomonas. The organism is described in detail.