| Abstract: | Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) was recently reported as a new host of Pseudomonas savastanoi. The main symptom on buckthorn is the formation of knots on stems, branches and occasionally on leaves. Knot formation and anatomical changes in host tissues induced by P. savastanoi were studied macroscopically and by light microscopy. Inoculation of buckthorn shoots with P. savastanoi initiated small green swellings that developed into normal size knots. The pathogen invades intercellular spaces of parenchyma tissues degrading cell walls and resulting in extensive cavities filled with bacterial cells. Many host cells contiguous to such cavities were plasmolysed and necrotic. Depending on the depth of the inoculation wound, parenchyma, cambium, ray parenchyma, and pith cells close to bacterial cavities enlarge and proliferate forming the fully grown knots. At later stages of knot development, the cambium appears dispersed in the knot and forms unoriented vascular tissues. Periderm surrounds bacterial cavities and outer layers of knots. These findings on buckthorn are compared with those reported to be caused by the same pathogen on ash, oleander and olive. |
