Adhesion of wilt causing bacteria in Curcuma alismatifolia tissue

Abstract

Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep. or pathumma is an economic plant of Thailand, which is also called "Siam tulip". It has faced a serious problem of bacterial wilt infection for many years. Wilt causing bacteria grow well in plant xylems, obstruct the vessels and cause plant death eventually. The pathogenic bacteria isolated from infected pathumma rhizomes were identified as Enterobacter sp. by morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. The strain JK1 had 43% survival rate after cultivation for 1 year in soil without host. Infectivity of this strain to cause wilt disease in pathumma was evaluated. The infected pseudostems were examined under compound and scanning electron microscopes. The electron microscopic studies clearly revealed the bacterial adhesion and structural changes of plant tissues. Enterobacter sp. JK1 adhered to the vascular bundle walls and shrunken the plant tissue. © 2012 Friends Science Publishers.