Corynebacterium oortii . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract

Abstract A description is provided for Corynebacterium oortii . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On Tulipa gesneriana , the garden tulip. DISEASE: 'Geel-pok' (yellow pustule) of tulip bulbs and 'hels vuur' (hell-fire) of the leaves. Primary infection occurs on leaves, which show silver grey spots after a short time. These become up to about 5 mm diam. with brittle, easily cracked epidermis and disorganised-looking parenchyma within. Plants may also show leaves with areas in which the upper and lower epidermis is badly cracked, giving a characteristic rough look to the leaves. These plants show yellowish stem interiors that run down to the young growing bulbs. On bulbs the outermost white scale develops many tiny white spots which turn yellow and by the end of the storage period are yellow areas with raised tissue and ruptured outer skin. In section many vascular bundles are yellow. Less severely affected bulbs develop into stunted plants with leaves showing silvery streaks along veins. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Netherlands, England. TRANSMISSION: By planting out of infected bulbs, which may produce infected plants and in turn more infected bulbs; also from plant to plant in the field by leaf infection. The latter presumably in windy and wet conditions.