Fitness of the strains, inferred as differences in the in planta growth of wild‐types and of mucoid and transparent variants in 1‐month‐old bean plants, for strains BS0005 (A), PVB‐H (B) and CC1582 (C). Wild‐types are indicated with full lines and phase variants with dotted lines (●, mucoid; ○, transparent). Standard errors are indicated for each mean. CFU, colony‐forming units; dpi, days post‐inoculation.