FIG. 3.

Capability of germinating alfalfa seeds to support growth of S. enterica serovar Cubana. A batch of alfalfa seeds was inoculated and S. enterica populations were monitored as described in the legend to Fig. 1. At 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, six seeds or seedlings from the initially inoculated seed batch were transferred to concurrently grown batches of uninoculated surface-sterilized seeds. S. enterica populations (Pop) in the seed batches inoculated initially (filled diamonds), at 24 h (filled boxes), at 48 h (filled triangles), at 72 h (filled circles), and at 96 h (Xs) are shown. The experiment was repeated at least three times, with similar results.