Eradication of Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens from Barley Seed with Dry Heat Treatments

Dry heat eliminated Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens, the seed-transmittted causal agent of bacterial black chaff and leaf streak of cereal grains, from barley seed without an appreciable reduction in germination. The pathogen was not detected in heavily infested seed exposed to temperatures of 71, 75, or 84 °C for 11 days. In contrast, the pathogen was apparently eliminated from moderately infested seed after exposure to 72°C for 4 days. The heat treatment decreased bacterial numbers much more rapidly the first day than on subsequent days (...)