Sycamore Leaf Scorch: Culture and Pathogenicity of Fastidious Xylem-Limited Bacteria from Scorch-Affected Trees

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Abstract
Morphologically identical gram-negative bacteria serologically related to the Pierce''s disease (PD) and elm leaf scorch bacteria were cultured from 24 of 25 scorch-affected sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) in Washington, DC, Richardson, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana [USA], by incubating wood chip samples in a liquid medium similar to that used for culture of the periwinkle wilt agent. Isolates then grew readily on media developed for the PD bacterium. Roots of 19 sycamore seedlings were inoculated with 1 isolate from scorched sycamore. Five months after inoculation, bacteria were reisolated from 11 of the seedlings, 7 of which showed leaf scorch symptoms. No bacteria were isolated from 20 control trees.