title: Transmission of phage by glassy-winged sharpshooters, a vector ofXylella fastidiosa.
abstract: Xylella fastidiosasubsp.fastidiosa(Xff) is the causal agent of Pierce's Disease (PD) of grapevines and is vectored by the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS,Homalodisca vitripennis). Previously we have reported the development of a bacteriophage (phage) based biocontrol system for PD, but no information on insect transmission of phages has been reported. Here we communicate that laboratory reared GWSSs fed on cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculatasubsp.unguiculata) harboring the virulent phage Paz were able to uptake of phage efficiently when the phage was present in high concentration, but were inefficient in transfer to plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Tushar Suvra
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Bhowmick
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mayukh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University , College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University , College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Krauter
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
keywords: Bacteriophage; Glassy-winged sharpshooter; Pierce's Disease; Xylella fastidiosa