In the present study, we report the effect of preservative agents against Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. carotovorum (Pcc),
the causal agent of soft rot disease, on sprouting radish seeds. Compounds were mixed with nutrient agar at concentrations
of 0.002 M, 0.02 M and 0.2 M. In vitro assay showed that out of ten compounds, sodium metabisulfite and sodium sulfite
were able to inhibit bacterial growth at all concentrations. In addition, the reduction of bacterial population was in
agreement with increasing holding time and concentration of compounds. In vivo assay of both compounds also exhibited
similar tendency, in which, high concentration shows more inhibition effects on bacterial growth. The population of Pcc on
radish sprout after treated with sodium metabisulfite and sodium sulfite were 0.00 and 6.68 log10 CFU/ml, compared to the
control (7.06 log10 CFU/ml). However, the sodium metabisulfite has stronger negative effects on seed germination compare
to sodium sulfite at 0.2 M. High concentration of both compounds also interfere the seedling elongation and fresh weight.
The results indicate that appropriate amount of both compounds might be used for controlling the Pcc growth.