Effect of low temperature on populations of Xylella fastidiosa in naturally infected sycamore

• Author(s): Britton, K.; Henneberger, T.; Stevenson, K.;
• Abstract: To determine the effect of low temperature on populations of Xylella fastidiosa in naturally infected sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), root and shoot samples were collected monthly for 13 months from two locations in Georgia. Soil and air temperatures were recorded at each site and used to generate cumulative hours below temperature thresholds ranging from -5degreeC to 10degreeC. To estimate bacterial populations, sap extracted from each sample was tested for X. fastidiosa by ELISA and diluted onto periwinkle wilt medium. Bacterial populations in shoots were negatively correlated with cumulative hours below an air temperature of -5degreeC (r=-0.96), but in roots, bacterial populations were only weakly correlated with cumulative hours below soil temperature thresholds from 0degreeC to 10degreeC (-0.61r-0.25). Our results indicate that air temperatures below -5degreeC are associated with limiting bacterial multiplication in sycamore shoots and that factors other than low soil temperature may influence multiplication of X. fastidiosa in sycamore roots.
• Publication Date: Jun 2003
• Journal: Phytopathology