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Control of Bacterial Blight of Soybean by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. R. H. Scherff, Research Plant Pathologist, Plant Science Research Division, ARS, USDA, University of Missouri, Columbia 65201; Phytopathology 63:400-402. Accepted for publication 3 October 1972. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-400.

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, a small, comma-shaped bacterium parasitic on other gram-negative bacteria, was isolated from the rhizosphere of soybean roots. B. bacteriovorus isolate Bd-17 inhibited development of local and systemic symptoms of bacterial blight when inoculated onto soybean with Pseudomonas glycinea at ratios of 9:1 and 99:1, respectively. Two other B. bacteriovorus isolates were less effective in inhibiting bacterial blight. The ability of B. bacteriovorus to inhibit bacterial blight was correlated with the average cell burst size of the particular isolate.