Etiology of grape crown gall in Ontario

Author:
  • BDB. N. Dhanvantari
    B. N. Dhanvantari
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Abstract
Crown gall was found mostly on vinifera grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars in Ontario vineyards. The galls were usually small and aggregated along the trunk and cane; large woody galls were less common. Vines affected by crown gall died back in 3–4 years after planting. All the nine strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Townsend) Conn isolated from galls corresponded to biotype 3 in determinative tests and were pathogenic on Datura, tobacco, tomato, and sunflower plants. Eight strains were sensitive to agrocin 84 on amended Stonier's medium. They were suppressed if inoculation was preceded 6 h earlier by Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K84 at wound sites on Datura and tomato plants.