More than 270 scientists from 33 countries attended the 6th
International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria in College Park,
Maryland, June 2-7, 1985. The Conference was jOintly sponsored by the
International Society of Plant Pathology, Bacteria Section and by the
United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service.
The Conference provided an opportunity for the presentation and
discussion of recent developments in phytobacteriology. The Conference
was organized into five symposia, seven discussion sessions, contributed
papers and poster presentations. More than 230 contributions were
presented under the following topics: ice nucleating bacteria;
detection, identification, nomenclature and taxonomy of phytopathogenic
bacteria; applications and impact of new biotechnologies on
phytobacteriology; bacterial phytotoxins; diagnostic phytobacteriology;
management of bacterial plant diseases; and molecular biology, genetics
and ecology, epidemiology of phytopathogenic bacteria. In addition,
special sessions focused on Agrobacterium, Erwinia, Psedomonas and
fastidious prokaryotes. This reflected the broad spectrum of current
research activity in phytobacteriology. Furthermore, interest in this
series of conferences clearly continues to increase. Key research
scientists who are currently making major advances in phytobacteriology
participated in the Symposia and Discussions. One of the most
significant recent changes that has occurred in the field of plant
pathology generally is the dynamic growth of research in which
recombinant DNA technology is being applied in basic studies on
bacterial plant pathogens. Results from investigations on the crown gall
bacterium have stimulated expansion of research on other bacterial
systems.
