Potential Plant Reservoirs for Xylella fastidiosa in South Texas

摘要

Vitis vinifera vines growing in the Texas Gulf Coast region inevitably contract Pierce's disease (PD), which is caused by bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. This area of intense disease pressure offers an excellent environment to identify the plant species that are alternate hosts of this bacterium. One hundred and one native or ornamental plant samples, representing 40 families, were evaluated for the presence of X. fastidiosa using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) methods in an initial screening of typical regional vegetation. Seventeen plants assayed tested positive for X. fastidiosa by two or more methods.