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Ecology and Epidemiology

Dissemination and Survival of Pseudomonas alboprecipitans Ascertained by Disease Distribution. R. D. Gitaitis, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; R. E. Stall(2), and J. O. Strandberg(3). (2)Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; (3)Associate Professor, University of Florida, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Sanford, FL 32771. Phytopathology 68:227-231. Accepted for publication 25 July 1977. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-227.

A field-scale spatial distribution of bacterial leaf blight of corn in central Florida was plotted to locate a source of initial inoculum of Pseudomonas alboprecipitans. Doublet analysis demonstrated a nonrandom aggregation of diseased plants. Graphs of log of infection vs. log of distance were used to compare plant-disease dispersal gradients within plots. Comparison of correlation coefficients implicated farm equipment as a means of dissemination and ditchbank weeds as a reservoir for initial inoculum. A diagnostic medium based primarily on the utilization of Lactalysate® was used for the isolation of P. alboprecipitans from ditchbank flora. It was found that long-term survival of the bacterium occurred in association with vaseygrass (Paspalum urvillei). The bacterium survived in association with vaseygrass seed as well as in leaf tissue.