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Ecology and Epidemiology

Presymptomatic Egress of Xanthomonas pruni from Infected Peach Leaves. William G. Miles, Plant Pathologist, U. & I. Sugar Co., Inc., Research Center, Moses Lake, WA 98837; Robert H. Daines(2), and James W. Rue(3). (2)Research Specialist, Department of Plant Biology, Cook College, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903; (3)Assistant Professor, Department of Ceramics, College of Engineering, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Phytopathology 67:895-897. Accepted for publication 13 January 1977. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-895.

Studies by scanning electron microscopy confirm the importance of stomata as infection sites as well as locations for egress of Xanthomonas pruni in peach leaves. Observations revealed that bacteria either as individual cells or in a mass exude from stomata as much as six days before infections are visible to the unaided eye, suggesting that bacteria may be available for new infections during much of the presymptomatic period.