Xylella fastidiosa strain differentiation in vector insects based on gyrase B RFLP.

• Author(s): Bextine, Blake;
• Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limiting plant pathogenic bacterium that causes disease in many ornamentals and grapevines, and has caused extensive damage to the agricultural and ornamental industry in the United States. This bacterium is transmitted to host plants by xylophagous leafhoppers including the vector glassywinged sharp-shooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) has been used to determine genetic diversity between X. fastidiosa strains. In this study, the gyrase B gene was analyzed using the restriction endonucleases TaqI and BsiWI, and the primer set BB: OUT F1 / BB OUT R1. This assay successfully differentiated two strains that occur in Texas, the Pierces disease and ornamentals strains. The results of this study coincide with the strain differentiation found using melt curve analysis of Sybr QRT-PCR. This technique can be used to distinguish between known strains of X. fastidiosa allowing a rapid screening assay to determine the strain of X. fastidiosa in a vector insect or host plant.
• Publication Date: Mar 2007
• Journal: Proceedings Of The 55Th Annual Meeting Of The Southwestern Branch Of The Entomological Society Of America