Influence of Developmental Stage on Susceptibility of Tomato Fruit toPseudomonas syringaepv.tomato

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Abstract
Tomato flower buds, flowers and fruit were inoculated with P. syringae pv. tomato (= P. tomato) at various developmental stages in greenhouse and field studies. In greenhouse studies, inoculation at the open corolla stage resulted in a significant decrease in marketable yield compared to the uninoculated control. Lesions did not develop on fruit when flower buds were inoculated prior to anthesis. Susceptibility of green fruit decreased as diameter at the time of inoculation increased. Lesions did not develop on inoculated pink or red fruit. In field studies, lesions did not develop on fruit inoculated when > 3 cm in diameter. Uninjured tomato fruit are most susceptible to infection by P. syringae pv. tomato in the period following anthesis and before the fruit reach 3 cm in diameter.