Kritzman, G.
Zutra, D., Div. of Plant Pathology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

The ability of the pathogen Pseudomonas syringac pv. lachrymans to survive in soil, plant debris, and the rhizosphere of non-host plants was studied under controlled conditions for 92 weeks. The pathogen was a poor survivor in the soil: its population declined from 5.6 × 105 bacteria per gram soil to an undetectable level after 8 weeks in inoculated soil which was kept dry, without irrigation. However, the organism persisted for over 90 weeks in wetted soil containing diseased cucumber debris. The pathogen was undetectable in soil which was kept wet for 72 weeks followed by 10 weeks' incubation without any irrigation. The organism survived in the rhizosphere of non-host plants for four growth cycles in the same soil, maintained its pathogenicity to cucumber seedlings, and increased its population over this period. © 1983 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.