ABSTRACT
Bacterial blights (Common blight, Fuscous blight, and Halo blight) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseli (syn. Xanthomonas phaseoli, X. phaseoli var. fuscans) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (syn. Pseudomonas phaseolicola) are widely distributed in most regions growing beans in Greece. In laboratory experiments 16 varieties and local populations of beans obtained from the Fodder Crops and Pastures Institute of Larissa, Greece, were tested for their reaction to these bacterial pathogens. First symptoms appeared usually one week after inoculation as water-soaked spots, which rapidly turned to necrotic often with a yellow halo and could involve a large portion of the leaf blade. Other symptoms, that might appear later, were uneven development of the leaflets, cupping of the leaf blades, wilting of leaves, or even stunting, withering and death of the whole plant as a result of systemic infection.
