ANTHERS ACT AS "TINDER" AND "RESERVOIR" FOR ERWINIA AMYLOVORA TO INFECT PEAR BLOSSOMS – OBSERVATION OF ERWINIA AMYLOVORA TAGGED WITH BIOLUMINESCENCE GENES ON PEAR SURFACES

To visually observe the growth of Erwinia amylovora in the infection process on pear blossoms, detached twigs of Japanese pear with open blossoms and leaves were placed in plastic bags and sprayed with suspensions of an Erwinia amylovora strain tagged with bioluminescence genes. Luminescence was observed periodically with a 2-D luminometer. From the appearance and strength of the luminosity, dehisced anthers (around pollens) are considered to be likely places for E. amylovora to gain footholds to grow and to act as "tinder" and "reservoir".