Fluorescence technology as a tool to study the infection pattern of apple seedlings by Erwinia amylovora

Abstract

The migration of Erwinia amylovora in apple seedlings was studied using two different fluorescence-imaging techniques. Pathogen labeled with the gene coding the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) was used, after inoculation of injured leaves, to follow migration in situ without detaching the leaves from the plant. The second technique, chlorophyll fluorescence-imaging as an indicator of the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus, was used to study physiological changes induced by the bacterium, in order to implement the technique as a tool to detect pre-symptomatic pathogen infections.