Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research
Project Number: 2034-22000-014-006-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 1, 2021
End Date: Jun 30, 2023
Objective:
The goal of this project is to 1) evaluate susceptibility of the two main ripe olive varieties grown in California (Manzanillo and Sevillano) to strains of Xylella fastidiosa associated with Olive Quick Decline epidemics in Italy, and 2) determine ability of Glassy-winged sharpshooter to acquire Xylella fastidiosa from these varieties with or without development of disease symptoms.
Approach:
Olive varieties Manzanillo and Sevillano will be artificially inoculated with a Xylella fastidiosa CoDiRO (olive quick decline) strain in the quarantine facility of the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Foreign Disease Weed Science research unit in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Development of disease symptoms will be monitored in the olive plants for one year, and plants will be tested for presence of the pathogen with quantitative PCR. Colony raised glassy-winged sharpshooters will be transported to the quarantine facility and caged on infected plants for an acquisition period, then tested for presence of the pathogen using quantitative PCR.
