EFFECTS OF FEEDING SUBSTRATE ON RETENTION AND TRANSMISSION OF XYLELLA FASTIDIOSA STRAINS BY THE GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER

• Author(s): Cooksey, Donald; Costa, Heather; Bextine, Blake;
• Abstract: In this project we are testing the effects of feeding substrate on the acquisition and retention of Xylella fastidiosa. We are using two strains of X. fastidiosa that are present in California: a Pieces disease (PD) strain that infects grape, and an oleander leaf scorch (OLS) strain that infects oleander. For the initial phase of this project, we began by comparing the relative proportion of insects that tested positive after acquisition of a given strain of X. fastidiosa when they were maintained on a plant species that was either a host or non-host of that strain. We are now in the process of testing individual insects using strain-specific PCR methods to detect the presence the pathogen. In the first three replicates using the OLS strain, the proportion of insects testing positive after acquisition was similar regardless of whether the insects were fed on a host or a non-host of the OLS strain. Analysis of samples that have been collected in additional replicates will allow us to determine if this pattern is consistent, and whether or not the same type of pattern is observed with insects carrying the PD strain. Additional experiment will be conducted to test the effects of varying the feeding substrate on transmission rates of each strain.
• Publication Date: Aug 2003
• Journal: 2003 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium