Identification and Characterisation of Isolates of Erwinia amylovora from Cotoneaster in Australia

Australasian Biotechnology, Vol.8 No.6, December 1998 Identification and Characterisation of Isolates of Erwinia amylovora from Cotoneaster in Australia R.K.Taylor and C.N.Hale Code Number:AU98042 The results of tests conducted on cotoneaster samples showing typical fire blight symptoms in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, suggest that the causal organism is Erwinia amylovora. Isolates from affected plant tissue were indistinguishable from authentic cultures of Erwinia amylovora in their morphology, in PCR, in DNA hybridisation tests using an Erwinia amylovora specific DNA probe, in tobacco hypersensitivity tests, and in pathogenicity tests on immature pear fruit and apple seedlings. Copyright 1998 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd