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Ecology and Epidemiology

Motility of Erwinia amylovora. Asuncion K. Raymundo, Former graduate student, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, Present address of senior author: Department of Life Sciences, University of The Philippines at Los Baños, College, Laguna, The Philippines; Stephen M. Ries, associate professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801. Phytopathology 71:45-49. Accepted for publication 15 March 1980. Copyright 1981 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-71-45.

Flagella synthesis by Erwinia amylovora is temperature dependent with an optimum at 18–25 C. For motility, a chelating agent and a pH of 6–9 are required. An external energy source is not required for motility although mannitol and glucose are stimulatory. Energy for motility can be derived from oxygen-dependent metabolism of endogenous energy sources. Motility under anaerobic conditions is possible if an energy source that can be metabolized in the absence of oxygen is available. Erwinia amylovora cells inside host tissues are not motile but become motile when placed in contact with free water at temperatures optimal for flagella synthesis.