Thermotherapy for the Control of Seed-borne Diseases in Dry Beans

In dry bean production, the use of high quality seed is very important as it can account for a large part of the input costs. The presence of seed-borne pathogens can lower dry bean yield and seed quality. Currently several management practices including cultural, chemical, and genetic controls are used to lower disease incidence and severity. Even with those control practices, seed-borne diseases are still difficult to manage. Therefore, the use of an alternative control method, microwave radiation, was tested to determine the effect on seed germination and pathogen viability of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap), Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Psp) and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. The application of a microwave treatment did not lower seed germination and had little impact on Xap, Psp, or C. lindemuthianum in the field. The addition of chemical treatment to microwave radiation or on its own also had limited impact on disease control.