Bacteria--plant cell surface interactions: active immobilization of saprophytic bacteria in plant leaves.

Fibrillar structures, originating from the plant cell wall in the intercellular spaces of leaves of ;Red Kidney' bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., engulfed a saprophytic bacterium, Pseudomonas putida, after its initial attachment to the host walls. Phytopathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas phaseolicola and Pseudomonas tomato, did not adhere to the plant cell wall nor were they encapsulated. Bean lectins may be involved in the attachment and encapsulation processes.