VIEW ARTICLE

Occurrence of a Rickettsia-like Bacterium in the Xylem of Peach Trees with Phony Disease. D. L. Hopkins, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Centers, Leesburg 32748; H. H. Mollenhauer(2), and W. J. French(3). (2)Microbiologist, Veterinary Toxicology and Entomology Research Laboratory, ARS, USDA, College Station, Texas 77840; (3)Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Centers, Monticello 32344. Phytopathology 63:1422-1423. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-1422.

By electron microscopy, a pleomorphic bacterium was observed in constant association with the xylem of roots and leaves from peach trees having phony disease symptoms, but not in the xylem of healthy trees. The bacterium did not grow on any of four general-purpose bacterial media. The causal agent of phony disease of peach may be a rickettsia-like bacterium.