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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #197108
Title: MOTILITY TRAILS OF XYLELLA FASTDIOSA ON CULTURE MEDIA SURFACES VISUALIZED BY REFLECTION CONTRAST MICROSCOPY.

Author
item Chen, Jianchi
item Groves, Russell
item Civerolo, Edwin

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2006
Publication Date: 7/29/2006
Citation: Chen, J., Groves, R.L., Civerolo, E.L. 2006. Motility trails of xylella fastdiosa on culture media surfaces visualized by reflection contrast microscopy. [abstract]. Phytopathology. 96:S22

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa is an important plant pathogen causing grape Pierce’s disease (PD) and almond leaf scorch disease (ALSD) in California. Because of its nutritional fastidiousness, few biological traits of this bacterium have been reported. In this study, two ALSD strains, M12 and M23, representing A- and G-genotypes, respectively, were used to search for evidence of surface motility. With reflection contrast microscopy, we observed the presence of bacterial motility trails (MTs) on the surface of two commonly used media PW and PD3, solidified by GelRite. Strain M12 showed curved MTs on both PW and PD3 (100%). Strain M23 showed straight MTs on the two media at low frequency (0.8%), and also curved MTs on PD3 at a higher frequency (50%). The presence of MTs indicates that cells of X. fastidiosa are capable of active surface translocation during the early stages of growth on solid media. We also observed the presence of matrix rings surrounding the colonies of strain M23 during the active growing stage, which may be related to cell to cell communication.