Bacteriophages of Plant Pathogens

Abstract

Studies on bacteriophages have advanced markedly in recent years, especially the study of phages related to medical bacteriology. We are not as well informed as yet on the phages in relation to plant diseases, especially in relation to basic research of their nature. However, a number of interesting papers concerning the phages of plant pathogens have been published in recent years. Many phages act specifically on definite host bacteria. Some of them have been applied as useful tools in many diverse studies such as the identification of bacterial species, the differentiation of strains in bacterial species, the detection of pathogens hibernating in fields or on plants, the counting of bacterial density, and the forecasting of disease development. Since interesting results worthy of our attention are now accumulating, we would like to introduce them together with our present knowledge.