Isolation and molecular characterization of X. fastidiosa from different hosts present in Apulia region (Italy)
Abstract
In 2013 a severe disease induced by Xyllella fastidiosa caused huge damages in the olive orchards of Apulia region, South Italy. CoDiRO strain, belonging to subspecies pauca, was found to be the only agent of the infection, and 30 plant species were confirmed to be susceptible to this pathogen. Unlike Italy, in France 2 different subspecies, comprising several strains, were detected. Olea europaea is commonly used for the pathogen isolation from plant tissues. The aim of this study was to identify suitable host species, besides the olive, for the bacterial isolation, interms of growth time and culture purity, using different approaches. Isolations were carried out from 29 different host species which were found positive by ELISA and PCR tests. Samples were collected throughout the year, once or twice per month. [...] Pure cultures were obtained from: Olea europaea, Polygala myrtifolia, Nerium oleander and
Lavandula angustifolia. For most host plant species spring and early summer proved to be the best seasons for X. fastidiosa isolation. Subsequently, Multilocus Sequence typing (MLST) performed from the obtained isolates of Lavandula angustifola and Polygala mytrifolia confirmed that all sequences have the same profile as CoDiRO
strain, with no variation.