Association of a Bacterium with a Disease of Toronto Creeping Bentgrass. D. L. Roberts, Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Electron Optics, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824. J. M. Vargas, Jr., Associate Professor, R. Detweiler, Research Technician, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and Pesticide Research Center, K. K. Baker, Assistant Professor, and G. R. Hooper, Professor, Center for Electron Optics, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824. Plant Dis. 65:1014-1016. Accepted for publication 27 April 1981. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-1014.

Plants of Toronto creeping bentgrass exhibiting wilt symptoms of unknown etiology were examined ultrastructurally. Bacteria were found in xylem of roots, crowns, and leaves, and were similar in size (0.5 µm × 1.5 µm), morphology (rippled cell wall), and location (xylem) to rickettsialike bacteria found in association with Pierce’s disease of grape, plum leaf scald, and phony disease of peach. Our suggested name for the disease is “bacterial wilt” of Toronto creeping bentgrass.