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The Use of Immunofluorescence for the Identification of Phony Peach Bacterium. W. J. French, Associate Professor, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, Agricultural Research Center, Monticello, FL 32344; D. L. Stassi(2), and N. W. Schaad(3). (2)Doctoral Candidate, Genetics Group, Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306; (3)Associate Professor, University of Georgia, Georgia Experiment Station, Experiment, GA 30212. Phytopathology 68:1106-1108. Accepted for publication 20 January 1978. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-1106.

Antisera were produced against rickettsialike bacteria (RLB) extracted from roots of peach (Prunus persica) and wild plum trees (P. angustifolia), respectively. The RLB recovered from peach with phony disease symptoms were stained with nonlabeled antisera (to whole cells) and counterstained with fluorescent anti-rabbit globulin conjugate. The antisera were highly specific to RLB from both plum and peach. The immunofluorescence test provides a rapid, reliable method of confirming the identification of the RLB associated with phony peach disease.