Dissemination and Transmission of Xanthomonas campestris pv. begoniae in an Ebb and Flow Irrigation System. V. P. Atmatjidou, Former Graduate Student, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691. R. P. Fynn, and H. A. J. Hoitink. Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering, and Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691. Plant Dis. 75:1261-1265. Accepted for publication 10 June 1991. Copyright 1991 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-75-1261.

Low populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. begoniae were disseminated from infected roots of Begonia hiemalis into a recycled ebb and flow irrigation solution developed for the production of potted horticultural crops. Plants irrigated with the infested solution developed low levels (2.5% incidence) of the disease. The low level of transmission appeared to be attributable to high death rates of the pathogen in the irrigation solution. We conclude that transmission of this pathogen through this solution does not pose a great threat to producers of flowered begonias but could be important in production of pathogen-free begonia stock plants.