The history of phytobacteriology began in 1675 when Anton Van Leeuwenhoek first observed bacteria under a microscope. Important developments include Pasteur demonstrating bacteria's role in fermentation in 1876, and Robert Koch establishing the link between specific bacteria and diseases like anthrax and cholera in 1876. Throughout the late 19th century, various scientists isolated and described different bacterial plant pathogens. Erwin Smith established bacteria as the primary cause of plant diseases from 1890-1899. Today around 1600 bacterial species are known, with many being beneficial for decomposition, but several cause diseases in humans, animals, and plants.

1. SARDAR VALLABHAI PATEL
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE &
TECHNOLOGY
HISTORY OF PHYTOBACTERIOLOGY AT GLOBAL LEVEL
SUBMITTED TO
PROF.KAMAL KHILARI

2. History of bacteriology started when Anton
Von Leeuwenhoek, (Dutch Worker) observed
Bacteria for the first time in 1675 with
Microscope. In 1683 he described the bacteria
seen with microscope.
The importance of these observations were
realised only after Pasteur (1876) had
demonstrated their role in fermentation and
decay.

3. Robert Koch (1876) from
Germany had proved
that the bacteria can
cause such disease as
anthrax, tuber culosis or
Asiatic cholera. He gave
four famous Koch’s
Postulates for proving
that a particular
organism is the cause of
particular disease.
Robert koach 1876

4.  Woronin (1876) isolated and
described the root nodule
bacteria in leguminous
plant. Now it was well
recognised that all the
organisms’ bacteria are most
closely related to human
being life.
Woronin (1876)

5.  T.J Burbil from
University of Illinois
(1878) was first proved
to association of
bacterium with plant
disease. He showed that
Erwinia amylovora
causes fire blight pear
and apple.
 In 1879 Prilleaux
reported the bacterial
decay of wheat kernels.
T.J Burbil 1878 &Prilleaux
1879

6.  In 1883 J.H Wakker
published the results on his
through investigationson
yellow slime disease of
hyacinth caused by
bacterium.
J.H Wakker 1883

7.  J.C Arther (From USA)
during 1885 -1887
confirmed Burrill’s
work.
 Luigi Savastano (From
Italy) described in 1887 a
bacterial knot disease of
olives.
J.C Arther1885-1887&Luigi
1887

8.  Erwin F. Smith (From USA) started
studying bacterial disease of pants from
1890. His humerous and excellent
contributions on to the study of bacterial
disease of plants, particularly of the
bacterial wilts of cucurbits, of solanaceous
crops, and of cruifers established beyond
any doubt the role of bacteria as
phytopathogens. He resolved the
controversy with the German
Bacteriologist, Alfred Fischer (1897,1899)
who did not think that bacteria were the
primary cause of disease in plants. He
also was among the first to notice (1893-
1894) and to study the crown gall disease.
He showed it to be caused by bacteria,
studied its anatomy and development,
and considered it to resemble cancerous
tumors of human and animals.
Erwin F.Smith1890-1899

9.  Chilton et al. (1977) showed
that the crown gall bacterium
transforms normal plant cells
into tumor cells by
introducing into them a
plasmid, part of which
becomes inserted into the
plant cell chromosomes DNA.
Chilton et al. 1977

10.  Windsor and Black in 1972
observed rickettsia like
organisms in the phloem of
clover plants infected with
the club leaf disease. The
following year similar
organisms were observed in
grape infected with pierces
disease, in peach infected
with phony peach, and
others.
Windsor and Black 1972

11.  E.J Butler from India,
examined the brown rot
disease of potato in 1903,
and indicated the
bacterial nature of the
disease.
E.J Butler 1903

12.  M.K Patel and associates
from Pune, India,
commensed a serious of
studies on bacterial
phytopathogens in 1948.
This team, over a period
of about 15 years,
reported on nearly 40
bacterial diseases, some of
them on economically
important host plants.
M.K Patel & associates

13.  About 1600 bacterial species are
known. Most are strictly
saprophytes which are beneficial
to human because they
decompose the enormous
quantities of organic matter
produced yearly by humans,
animals and factory waste
products or by death of plants
and animals and factory waste
products or by death of plant
and animals. Several species
causes disease in humans,
animals and plants.
Importance

14. 