crown gall

American  

noun

Plant Pathology.

1. a disease of peaches, apples, roses, grapes, etc., characterized by the formation of galls on the roots or stems usually at or below ground level, caused by a bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

2. the gall itself.

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Etymology

Origin of crown gall

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Discuss diseases and insect pests common to roses grown in the maritime Pacific Northwest, including black spot, rust, cercospora leaf spot, powdery mildew, crown gall, cankers, rose mosaic virus and more via Zoom 6:30-8:15 p.m.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 9, 2022

The key was a soil microbe called Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which can inject its own DNA into plants, causing a tumorlike growth called crown gall disease.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2013

It was Dr. Smith who demonstrated that the crown gall, a plant disease resembling animal cancer, could be experimentally transmissted from plant to plant by cultures of a microorganism found in the gall.

From Time Magazine Archive

This report followed closely after another from Dr. Link having to do with crown gall, a local infection of apple trees which superficially at least resembles cancer in animals.

From Time Magazine Archive

If a pecan tree has crown gall don't plant it.

From Northern Nut Growers Association, Report of the Proceedings at the Fourth Annual Meeting Washington D.C. November 18 and 19, 1913 by Northern Nut Growers Association