Recent inquiries to our Seed Health Coordinator highlight a surge in testing for Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (CFF), the bacterium responsible for bacterial wilt in dry beans, garden beans, soybeans, cowpeas, and other legumes in the Fabaceae family. Some references may still list it under its former name, Corynebacterium flaccumfaciens.
Why the Sudden Spike?
In the past year, bacterial wilt caused by CFF was detected in Switzerland and the Netherlands, traced to imported U.S.-origin bean seed. As a result, the Netherlands and other EU Member States announced plans to test all bean seed lots upon entry unless the seed has been tested in advance by a U.S. National Seed Health System-approved lab.
What Does This Mean for Exporters?
To avoid delays or rejections, exporters are advised to test seed intended for EU destinations prior to shipment. Current requirements apply to Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and Phaseolus coccineus (runner bean). Soybeans are not yet included but could be added in the future.
Our lab at Iowa State University has aligned with the Dutch testing protocol, which involves testing 5,000 seeds in subsets of 1,000 using dilution plating on agar media. Testing typically takes 10–12 days, with PCR follow-up for suspect colonies adding 1–2 days.
Contact us with any questions or to schedule testing.
