The objective of this study was to determine the availability of PCR technique as a tool for Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) and x. axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans (Xapf) identification. The specificity of the primers was tested based on the DNA amplification of 42 isolates of bacteria collected at several locations. The primers were capable of identifying Xap and Xapf, although two virulent isolates were not detected. The amplification of a weak band, which was observed for X. axonopodis pv. vitians, suggests homology between these pathovars, in the same region.
