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Erwinia amylovora Infection of Hawthorn Blossom
Author(s) -
Wilson M.,
Sigee D. C.,
Epton H. A. S.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of phytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0434
pISSN - 0931-1785
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0434.1989.tb04499.x
Subject(s) - biology , locule , stamen , pollen , erwinia , botany , bacteria , dehiscence , genetics
Stamens of freshly opened flowers of hawthorn were inoculated with E ;. amylovora and the development of blossom infection was monitored by viable bacterial counts and light and electron microscopy. Some bacterial multiplication occurred on the anther surface, over the dehiscence zone and over the junctions ot the anther‐wall cells. bacteria invaded the anther loculc, via the ruptured dehiscence zone, and possibly also vid the stomata surrounding the filament insertion. bacteria within the locule multiplied rapidk with estimated doubling‐times which were longer than those derived from in vitro data. Pollen grains Irom infected anthers were found to be heavily eontaminated with bacteria. The invasion of anther tissue, with the production of contaminated pollen, may be important epidemiologieally both as a phase of rapid bacterial multiplication and in the insect‐mediated spread of this disease.