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Recovery of Rickettsialike Bacteria by Vacuum Infiltration of Peach Tissues Affected with Phony Disease. W. J. French, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, IFAS, Agricultural Research Center, Monticello, FL 32344; R. G. Christis(2), and D. L. Stassi(3). (2)Plant Pathologist III, Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; (3)Graduate Student, Genetics Group, Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Phytopathology 67:945-948. Accepted for publication 24 February 1977. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-945.

A method is described for collecting bacteria from peach trees (Prunus persica) affected with phony disease. A solution of 10^–1M KOH was drawn through root sections and the resulting extract, when examined by phase-contrast microscopy, contained up to 7.5 × 10⁷ bacterial cells/ml. Electron microscopy of the extracts indicated that the bacteria were morphologically indistinguishable from the rickettsialike bacteria observed in ultrathin-sectioned material. Extracts from stems usually contained lower concentrations than those from roots. A method for aseptically isolating rickettsialike bacteria was developed, but no rickettsialike bacteria grew on any of the media tested.