Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy for direct detection of Xylella fastidiosa in xylem sap.
The plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa is the causative agent of a number of diseases of economically important crops, including Pierce's disease that affects grapevines. Using a commercially available antibody specific for X. fastidiosa, we have established a protocol for microscopic identification of the bacterium by indirect immunofluorescence. This antibody clearly labels an uncharacterized antigen concentrated at a single pole of X. fastidiosa cells, but does not react with a non- Xylella control. This technique was also performed successfully on xylem exudates from several different plant genera and correlated well with standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests. These results establish a novel method for in situ assessment of X. fastidiosa infection from host plants.
Carbajal
Dulce
D
Department of Natural Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown, One Main Street, Houston, TX 77002, USA.
Morano
Kevin A
KA
Morano
Lisa D
LD
D019659:Asteraceae / Q000382:microbiology; D031175:Baccharis / Q000382:microbiology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*; D045868:Sorghum / Q000382:microbiology; D044167:Xylella / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity