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Ultrastructure of Potato Stems Infected with Corynebacterium sepedonicum. W. M. Hess, Department of Botany and Range Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84601; Gary A. Strobel, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman 59715. Phytopathology 60:1428-1431. Accepted for publication 14 April 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-1428.

Stems of potato cultivars Russett and Norgold-Russett were inoculated with a pathogenic isolate of Corynebacterium sepedonicum. Ultrastructural investigations showed that organelles and membrane systems of some areas of the wilted petioles were more severely affected than other areas, and bacteria were seen in vascular cells and in intercellular air spaces which had increased in size due to separation of the middle lamella. All membrane systems were significantly altered including the plasma membrane, and excessive amounts of abnormal membranes were present in some cells. Injury was more severe and more extensive in infected Russett petioles than in infected Norgold-Russett petioles.