Phomopsis longicolla is a major seed pathogen of soybean (Glycine max) in hot, humid environments. The objective of this study was to monitor the infection and development of P. longicolla on vegetative and reproductive tissues of six cultivars and to determine the relationship between this infection and subsequent seed infection and seed germination. Cultivars were grown for 3 years (2002 to 2004) without irrigation or with irrigation applied at pre- plus post-flowering or at postflowering growth stages. P longicolla was isolated most frequently from leaf, stem, pod, root, and seed. Diaporthe phaseolorum and three unidentified Phomopsis sp. were also isolated. Diaporthe aspalathi, which previously has not been reported on soybean, was also recovered from leaf samples. These isolates, however, were recovered very infrequently. Recovery of P longicolla from roots was much lower than from leaves, stems, and pods in all years and irrigation environments. The recovery of P. longicolla from seed was affected by irrigation environments. Seed from irrigated plots had more P. longicolla than that from nonirrigated plots. Isolation of P. longicolla from seed was negatively correlated with percentage of seed germination in irrigated environments but not in the nonirrigated environment. Pod infection was correlated with seed infection in all three irrigation environments. Even though infection of leaves and stems increased with increasing moisture availability, such infection did not consistently correlate with seed infection. Seed germination and seed infection were negatively correlated with percent hard seed. This study provided the first demonstration of the seasonal progression of P. longicolla on soybean cultivars grown under three irrigation environments.

The bacterial microflora present and its relationship with Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp) were studied in bean seeds, on 118 genotypes coming from VIDAC - 98, INTA - Nicaragua, TARS - USDA and Isabela - P.R. Five isolation methods were used: seed decontaminated with sodium hypochlorite, seed treated with refrigerated nutrient broth for one hour, dispersion of 0.1 ml of suspension of seeds between solid, liquid sowing of 1 ml suspension and seed in nutritious, agitated broth and refrigerated by 24 hours. One hundred and four yellow colonies from 41 genotypes were isolated. Thirty-six colonies were positive KOH (Gram negative), 68 negative (Gram positive) and 34 were starch hydrolyzers. The yellow colonies were nonpathogenic under greenhouse conditions. These were identified with the BIOLOG system as: Pantoea agglomerans (25), Xanthomonas campestris (2), Enterobacter agglomerans (2), Sphingomonas paucimobilis (2), Pseudomonas fluorescens and Flavimonas oryzihabitans. In addition, the genotypes carried colonies with other pigmentations. Antagonistic colonies were identified with deoxyribonuclease activity and antibiosis to Xcp. Of these, 15 colonies inhibited Xcp significantly. The fungi were identified as: Rhizoctonia solani, Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus nigricans and Macrophomina phaseolina in 52.9% of the total evaluated genotypes.

Se estudio la microflora bacteriana presente en semillas de frijol y su relacion con Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp), en 118 genotipos procedentes de VIDAC-98, INTA- Nicaragua, TARS-USDA e Isabela-P.R. Se utilizaron cinco metodos de aislamiento: semilla desinfectada con hipoclorito de sodio, semilla en caldo nutritivo refrigerada por una hora, dispersion de 0,1 ml de suspension de semillas en medio solido, siembra liquida de 1 ml de suspension y semilla en caldo nutritivo, agitado y refrigerado por 24 horas. Se aislaron 104 colonias amarillas de 41 genotipos. Treinta y seis colonias fueron KOH positivo (Gram negativo), 68 negativo (Gram positivo) y 34 hidrolizaron almidon. Las colonias de pigmentacion amarilla resultaron no patogenicas bajo condiciones de invernadero. Estas se identificaron con el sistema BIOLOG como: Pantoea agglomerans (25), Xanthomonas campestris (2), Enterobacter agglomerans (2), Sphingomonas paucimobilis (2), Pseudomonas fluorescens y Flavimonas oryzihabitans. En adicion, los genotipos portaron colonias con pigmentacion distinta a la amarilla. En las pruebas de antagonismo se identificaron colonias con actividad de deoxyribonucleasa y de antibiosis a Xcp. De estas, 15 colonias inhibieron a Xcp significativamente. Se identificaron los hongos Rhizoctonia solani, Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus nigricans y Macrophomina phaseolina en un 52,9 % del total de genotipos evaluados.

Microflora en semillas de frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Se estudió la microflora bacteriana presente en semillas de frijol y su relación con Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp), en 118 genotipos procedentes de VIDAC-98, INTA- Nicaragua, TARS-USDA e Isabela-P.R. Se utilizaron cinco métodos de aislamiento: semilla desinfectada con hipoclorito de sodio, semilla en caldo nutritivo refrigerada por una hora, dispersión de 0,1 ml de suspensión de semillas en medio sólido, siembra líquida de 1 ml de suspensión y semilla en caldo nutritivo, agitado y refrigerado por 24 horas. Se aislaron 104 colonias amarillas de 41 genotipos. Treinta y seis colonias fueron KOH positivo (Gram negativo), 68 negativo (Gram positivo) y 34 hidrolizaron almidón. Las colonias de pigmentación amarilla resultaron no patogénicas bajo condiciones de invernadero. Estas se identificaron con el sistema BIOLOG como: Pantoea agglomerans (25), Xanthomonas campestris (2), Enterobacter agglomerans (2), Sphingomonas paucimobilis (2), Pseudomonas fluorescens y Flavimonas oryzihabitans. En adición, los genotipos portaron colonias con pigmentación distinta a la amarilla. En las pruebas de antagonismo se identificaron colonias con actividad de deoxyribonucleasa y de antibiosis a Xcp. De éstas, 15 colonias inhibieron a Xcp significativamente. Se identificaron los hongos Rhizoctonia solani, Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus nigricans y Macrophomina phaseolina en un 52,9 % del total de genotipos evaluados