Cucumber seeds previously pricked with a needle to induce injury were inoculated with a cell
suspension of Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans by the vacuum infiltration technique (50cm of Hg/ two
minutes). Inoculated seeds were planted in sterile vermiculite and an infection as high as 97,92% was achieved.
Non germinated seeds were recovered, washed and ground in medium 523 of Kado & Heskett containing
cicloheximide at 200ppm. Sterile wooden toothpick sections were introduced in slices of green cucumber kept in
Petri dishes working as a moist chamber. At the site of inoculation, 10µl of enriched seed extract (zero and 48
hours old) were deposited. After incubation at 28oC for 24-48 hours, typical symptoms (watersoaking evoluting to
necrosis) were observed around the inoculated area. Phytobacteria other than P. syringae pv. lachrymans did not
induce symptoms in the biological baits.