Crown Gall of Stone Fruit Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Description:
A bacterial disease causing large, relatively soft lumps on the base of the stem or roots. Galls may appear higher up the stems on plants that have been infected for some time.
Species Affected:
Stone Fruit.
Biology:
Lives in soil.
Enters the plant via wounds caused by insects or mechanical damage.
Bacteria are released into the soil when the gall matures.
Life Cycle:
Origin and History:
Distribution:
Significance:
If plants are infected when they are young the vascular system is damaged and they are rarely productive.
Management and Control:
Plant material that is free from root or crown galls.
Avoid cultivating or mowing close to the base of trees.
Thoroughly wet seeds, cuttings or roots with No-gall® from Root Nodule Pty Ltd, Woy-Woy, NSW. This is non pathogenic strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (isolate K84) and acts as a biological control agent. It is not effective on the Blueberry strain of Agrobacterium.
Destroy infected young plants.
Related and Similar Species:
References:
1205
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 for more information.