OCCURRENCE OF ACTINOMADURA PHAGE IN ORGANIC MULCHES USED FOR AVOCADO PLANTATIONS IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

Phage infecting Actinomadura verrucosospora, Actinomadura pusilla, and Nocardiopsisflava were isolated from mulches applied to avocado trees at the University of Western Australia experimental plots. The physiochemical properties, plaque morphology, host range, and particle morphology of the phage isolated are described. Taxonomic implications of the reactions of some cell wall chemotype III actinomycetes to Actinomadura phage are also discussed.