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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 #281557
Title: Transmission ecology and epidemiology of the citrus variegated chlorosis strain of Xylella fastidiosa

Author
item LOPES, JOAO ROBERTO - Universidad De Sao Paulo
item Krugner, Rodrigo

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2016
Publication Date: 6/1/2016
Citation: Lopes, J.S., Krugner, R. 2016. Transmission ecology and epidemiology of the citrus variegated chlorosis strain of Xylella fastidiosa. In: Brown, J.K., editor. Vector-Mediated Transmission of Plant Pathogens. St. Paul, MN: American Phytopathological Society Press. p. 195-208.

Interpretive Summary: Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterial plant pathogen that causes important crop diseases such as Pierce’s disease in grapes in the United States and citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) in Central and South America. The diseases severely damage the plants, reducing fruit yield and quality, and shortening the productive life of vineyards and citrus orchards. The pathogen is spread from plant to plant by several species of leafhoppers. Overall, yield losses and costs associated with management of CVC in Brazil are estimated in US dollars at $120 million per year. CVC is not known to occur in the United States. However, devastating social and economic impacts similar to those caused by CVC in Brazil may occur in the U.S. if the disease is introduced. This chapter provides an overview on aspects related to transmission of the CVC strain of X. fastidiosa, focusing on leafhopper species diversity and patterns of pathogen spread in citrus in Brazil. Finally, the implications of current knowledge and further research needed to improve disease management are discussed.

Technical Abstract: Xylella fastidosa is a vector-borne vascular bacterium that inhabits the xylem vessels of a wide range of host plants. Most of the information on vector-Xylella-plant interactions derives from studies with strains that cause Pierce’s disease of grapevine in the United States. The subspecies fastidiosa strains have been endemic in the U.S. for more than a century. Over the last 20 years, various new diseases caused by X. fastidiosa have been described throughout the Americas, including oleander leaf scorch, pecan bacterial leaf scorch, bacterial leaf scorch of blueberry, citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), and coffee leaf scorch. CVC is clearly the most important emerging disease caused by this pathogen, because of the high economic impact in Brazilian citriculture and associated risks of introduction of the pathogen into new regions including the U.S. This chapter provides an overview of 1) transmission of X. fastidiosa strains causing CVC (subsp. pauca), focusing on insect vector species diversity and their ecological and epidemiological importance to citrus in Brazil; and 2) patterns of pathogen spread and disease distribution based on inoculum sources and infection periods. Finally, the implications of current knowledge and further research needed to improve disease management are discussed.