DOCUMENTATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF XYLELLA FASTIDIOSA STRAINS IN LANDSCAPE HOSTS

• Author(s): Cooksey, Donald; Costa, Heather; Wong, Frank; Downer, James; Henry, Mike; Kabashima, John; Karlik, John; LeStrange, Michelle; Shaw, David;
• Abstract: The xylem-limited bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa causes a number of diseases in a wide range of hosts including Pierces disease of grapevine and leaf scorch of oleander. Recently, the presence of the bacteria has been documented in a number of landscape ornamentals in southern California have showing symptoms typical of those caused by the pathogen. Plants such as sweet gum (liquidambar), olive and ornamental plum have been identified as susceptible hosts of the pathogen. During surveys conducted in the summer of 2003, over 500 samples from plants showing symptoms typical of X. fastidiosa infection from five cities in southern California were tested for the presence of the pathogen. Seventy-eight host species were represented in the samplings. Plants from 26 of the species represented tested positive for the presence of the pathogen by ELISA. Current work is focusing on the confirmation of the presence of the pathogen by PCR amplification and the collection of bacterial isolates from these suspected hosts for both genetic and host range characterization.
• Publication Date: Aug 2003
• Journal: 2003 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium