Erwinia amylovora can pass through the abscission layer of fruit-bearing twigs and invade apple fruit during fruit maturation

Abstract

Invasion of apple fruit by Erwinia amylovora from fruit-bearing twigs through the abscission layer at fruit maturation was examined. Erwinia amylovora (ca. 105 cfu) tagged with bioluminescence genes from Vibrio fischeri was deposited in artificial wounds on fruit-bearing twigs of apple trees grown in a containment greenhouse on September 22, 27, or October 5, 2004. On October 22, 176 apples were harvested and cut horizontally in half. The upper halves were stamped on plates of selective medium, and the lower halves were flooded with iodine solution to assess maturity. All fruit were symptomless and fully mature. The pathogen was recovered from 19 (10.8%) apples. The result showed that if at least ca. 105 cfu of E. amylovora are present in fruit-bearing twigs at the time of fruit maturation, the bacteria can pass through the abscission layer into the fruit, even though the mature fruit lack symptoms.