Identification of bacterial brown spot of bean in New Zealand

The pathogen of a bacterial leaf spot disease of bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae van Hall 1902. This is the first record of the disease, brown spot, for New Zealand. The pathogen can be differentiated from other pseudomonads isolated from diseased bean leaves by a serological test and peach seedling inoculation.