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Control of Bacterial Blights
Plant high quality seed which has been tested for blight. Certified seed from North Dakota has been tested for blight bacteria.
Treat seed with streptomycin to eliminate surface bacterial contaminants. Treatment does not eliminate internal bacteria, however, Streptomycin should be a component of triple seed treatment. Streptomycin affects Rhizobium nodulation bacteria. A granular, in-furrow inoculant rather than a seed-applied inoculant mat be more effective treated seed.
Practice crop rotation of three to four years to allow decomposition of debris. Deep plowing of bean straw soon after harvest speeds decomposition and restricts windblown debris dispersal. DEB blight bacteria generally do not cause disease or other crops such as soybeans, sunflowers, mustard, potatoes, flax or grains.
Most commercial bean varieties do not have resistance to bacteria. Pinto and navy beans have some field resistance to halo blight, and great northern varieties have tolerance to common blight. Resistant or tolerant pinto bean varieties are being developed. Use resistant varieties when they become available.
While some copper fungicides are registered for blight control, they have not been effective in North Dakota.
Clean equipment is essential, especially if beans are being grown for certification. Steam cleaning is most effective. If steam is not available, equipment should be washed with detergent and water to remove infected debris in which bacteria can survive many years, rinsed thoroughly, and, if possible, sprayed with a noncorrosive disinfectant. Equipment should be cleaned between seed lots, between fields, between seasons, etc.
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