En el laboratorio e invernadero de la Estación Experimental "Santa Catalina", INIAP, se llevó a cabo un experimento para identificar el agente causal de la enfermedad conocida como "Volcamiento del maíz" , y para encontrar fuentes de resistencia a su ataque. Se hicieron varias recolecciones de material enfermo de seis provincias y se logró separar con consistencia, pequeñas colonias bacterianas de color blanco grisáceo, que resultaron ser el agente causal y fueron identificadas como Erwinia chrysanthemi.An experiment was carried out in Fitopathology Laboratory and in the Greenhouse of Santa Catalina Experimental Station to identify the causal agent of the sickness know as "Volc.amiento del maiz" to find the sources of resistance to its attack. Some collections of the disease materials of 6 provinces, were made and small bacterial colonies of greyish color were separted with consistence; which in cousequence was the casual agent and was identify as Erwinia chrysanthemi.