STUDIES ON VACUUM-DRYING FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF PLANT PATHOGENIC BACTERIA
Maureen J. Fletcher and John M. Young*
International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants,
Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland, New Zealand
Summary
A comparison of freeze-drying
and vacuum-drying of plant pathogenic bacteria showed no short-term differences
in survival. Storage long term with vacuum-drying suggests that this simpler
method offers similar survival rates to freeze-drying. A modification of
the procedure in which the condenser is by-passed in the latter stages
of drying offers the prospect of achieving lower pressures which are not
limited by the vapour pressure of ice.