Histopathology of Klebsiella pneumoniae strain Borkar inciting root bark necrosis and wilt in pomegranate

Abstract

Histopathology of root bark necrosis and wilt in pomegranate incited by Klebsiella pneumoniae strain Borkar revealed that the bacterial infection was non-vascular in nature. The bacteria infect the epidermal layer and cortex of the bark tissues which are easily peeled off. Due to absence of root bark, the absorption of water and food material is hindered which results in wilting of the pomegranate plant. All other plant pathogenic bacteria inducing wilting in other plants infect the vascular system of the plant which finally leads to plant death, however the Klebsiella pneumoniae strain Borkar inciting root bark necrosis and wilt in pomegranate differed from other plant pathogenic bacteria by infecting only the cortex and epidermal cells of root bark to induce wilting in infected pomegranate plants.