The ability of AAC00-1ΔhrcC
to protect female blossoms from invasion by A. citrulli was evaluated.
Watermelon plants (Crimson Sweet) were maintained under
standard greenhouse conditions in 15-liter pots containing 90%
composted pine bark and 10% vermiculite until anthesis. At anthesis,
female blossoms were manually pollinated as described above,
then immediately inoculated by depositing 10 μl of a suspension
containing AAC00-1ΔhrcC, AAA99-2 at approximately 1 × 108
CFU/ml, or PBS as a negative control onto the stigmas.