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Pierce's Disease
Research Updates

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What is Pierce's Disease?

Pierce's Disease is a bacterial infection, which is spread by bugs that feed on grapevines, particularly the "glassy winged sharpshooter." Grapevines that become infected with PD can quickly become sick and die.

glassy-winged sharpshooter

A NOVEL IMMUNOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR QUANTIFYING PREDATION RATES ON GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER

  • Author(s): Fournier, Kent; Groves, Russell; Henneberry, James; Prabhaker, Heather;
  • Abstract: A glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) protein marking system is being developed for use as a diagnostic tool for predator gut content analysis. We determined that GWSS can be marked with 100% efficiency for at least 7 days after feeding on protein-marked plant material or spraying with a topical protein solution. Moreover, feeding trials have shown that protein marked insects can be detected by a protein-specific ELISA in the guts of predators that consumed them. Field studies are being initiated that will quantify the predation rates of an assemblage of predators on GWSS using a multitude of proteinspecific ELISAs.
  • Publication Date: Dec 2004
  • Journal: 2004 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium

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