INHIBITION OF RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L) SEEDLING ELONGATION BY A PSEUDOMONAS-FUSCOVAGINAE TOXIN

The effects of a Pseudomonas fuscovaginae toxin, on germination, root formation and seedling elongation, after soaking rice grains in the to xin prior to sowing, was investigated. The toxin enhanced germination, but had no apparent effect on the number of roots of the seedlings. I t induced a drastic inhibition of seedlings elongation correlated to v arieties susceptibility to the disease in the rice field. After denatu ration of the bioactive compounds of the extract, all the previously o bserved effects were lost. Using the toxin and the present test, could be a reliable tool for screening genotype susceptibility to P. fuscov aginae disease.