ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of the Genetic Structure of Xylella fastidiosa Populations Collected from Almond orchards in California

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 15, 2008
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Citation: Thimmiraju,, S.R., Daane,, K., Groves,, R.L., Lin, H., Sisterson, M.S. 2008. Evaluation of the Genetic Structure of Xylella fastidiosa Populations Collected from Almond orchards in California. Phytopathology 98:S156-S156.

Technical Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa causes many economically important crop diseases including Pierce’s disease of grape and almond leaf scorch disease. A more detailed understanding of the genetic structure of X. fastidiosa populations is likely to aid development of novel management strategies. Current evidence indicates that strains of X. fastidiosa are often clustered within groups or pathotypes based upon host association. We used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to examine the effects of cultivar and geographic location on X. fastidiosa populations collected from almond. Analysis of samples collected from almond orchards in different counties indicated that X. fastidiosa populations collected from different cultivars within the same orchard were more dissimilar than X. fastidiosa populations collected from the same cultivar from geographically separated orchards. We are currently screening samples from an additional two counties to more fully assess the effects of geographic distance on X. fastidiosa population structure.