Methods for recovery and immunodetection of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli in navy bean seed

Non-selective enrichment procedures were evaluated for recovery of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (fuscans strain) from artificially inoculated navy bean seed. A marked increase in recovery of the pathogen was obtained when the mixtures (bacterium plus bean seed) were suspended in Pseudomonas Agar F medium at 28°C for 48 h. Detection of this pathogen by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a specific monoclonal antibody was compared. The IF system was not only more sensitive but also more reliable than ELISA for detection of the pathogen. The method is particularly useful for evaluation of the common bacterial blight status of seedlots before planting out.