Electron Microscopy of Plant Pathogens

This up-to-date review of all electron microscopical techniques currently used also provides some recent principal research reports. Their application to the study of fine structures of various groups of plant pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma-like organisms, protozoa, nematodes) is described as well as host-pathogen and host-symbiont interactions. In recent years, new preparation and labelling techniques (cryofixation, immunolabelling) were applied in various disciplines of research and yielded further specific information on the nature of parasitic interactions as detectable in the electron microscope. The reader will obtain an overview of the modern technical possibilities of studying plant pathogens and their interrelationships using an electron microscopical approach. Furthermore, he is offered a view of the principal knowledge obtained up to now with all important groups of pathogens.

All important electron microscopical techniques applied in studies of plant pathogens, mainly fungi and viruses, are presented.