Adherence of bacteria to leaves

Abstract

Members of seven genra of bacteria, pathogens and nonpathogens of plants, adhered to young leaves when leaves were suspended in cell suspensions for 10 min. With Pseudomonas lachrymans, the adherence rate (cells applied vs. cells adhering) to host (cucumber) and nonhost (chrysanthemum) leaves was a straight-line, log-log function, as was the adherence of Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens to cucumber leaves. Adhering cells of these three bacteria were washed with water from cucumber leaves at a straight-line, log-log rate. Adhered cells of P. lachrymans were most commonly found near veins on cucumber leaves. There appeared to be a polymeric surface layer on this bacterium on the cucumber leaf when leaves bearing bacteria were stained with ruthenium red and viewed in thin section.