An evolutionary perspective of xylellae diseases in grapevine, citrus, and mulberry

• Author(s): Chang, Chung-Jan; Chen, Jianchi; Hartung, J.; Vidaver, A.;
• Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa causes diseases on many economically important plants. An understanding of how xylellae diseases originated and evolved is important for disease prevention and management. We evaluated the phylogenetic relationships of X. fastidiosa strains from citrus, grapevine, and mulberry through analyses of RAPDs and 16S rDNA genes. RAPD analysis detected three clonal groups of strains that cause Pierces disease (PD) of grapevine, citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), and mulberry leaf scorch (MLS). Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences also identified the PD and CVC groups, but with a less stable evolutionary tree, and included MLS strains in the PD group. The Asiatic origins of the major commercial grape and citrus cultivars suggest the recent evolution of both PD and CVC disease in North and South America, respectively.
• Publication Date: Jun 2002
• Journal: Phytopathology