In Vitro Leaf Injection Method for Detecting the Pathogenicity of Pomegranate Bacterial Blight Pathogen

Pomegranate is called as ‘fruit of paradise’ due to its multiple uses. However, pomegranate yield is adversely affected by infection by various phytopathogens. One of the hazardous pathogens is Xanthomonas axonopodis pv Punicae causing bacterial blight, the disease commonly known as Telya disease. In current research work, the pathogen was isolated from infected pomegranate fruits and leaves. The pathogen was studied for its cultural, morphological, biochemical and genetic characters. The pathogenicity of the isolate was determined by in vitro pathogenicity test in petri plate. The fresh healthy leaves were removed from the plant. Those leaves were artificially injected with the isolate. The leaves were observed for development of symptoms.