ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model host for Xylella fastidiosa

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 2011
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Citation: Rogers, E.E. 2011. Evaluation of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model host for Xylella fastidiosa. Phytopathology. 101(6):s155.

Technical Abstract: Pierce’s disease of grapes and almond leaf scorch are diseases caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. To date, progress determining mechanisms of host plant susceptibility, tolerance or resistance has been slow, due in large part to the long generation time and limited available genetic resources for grape, almond and other known hosts of X. fastidiosa. To overcome many of these limitations, Arabidopsis thaliana has been evaluated as a host for X. fastidiosa. A pin-prick inoculation method has been developed to infect Arabidopsis with X. fastidiosa. Following infection, X. fastidiosa multiplies robustly and can be detected by microscopy, PCR and isolation. The ecotypes Van-0, LL-0 and Tsu-1 all allow more growth of X. fastidiosa strain Temecula than the reference ecotype Col-0. Various X. fastidiosa strains also show differential growth in Arabidopsis. Affymetrix ATH1 microarray analysis of inoculated vs. non-inoculated Tsu-1 reveals gene expression changes that differ greatly from changes seen after infection with apoplast colonizing bacteria. Many genes responsive to oxidative stress are differentially regulated while classic pathogenesis-related (PR) genes are not induced by X. fastidiosa infection.