Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Sep 9;17(9):e1009813.
doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009813. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Xylella fastidiosa: A reemerging plant pathogen that threatens crops globally

Affiliations
Review

Xylella fastidiosa: A reemerging plant pathogen that threatens crops globally

Claudia Castro et al. PLoS Pathog. .
No abstract available

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. PD of grapevine cycle.
Xylella fastidiosa is acquired by its xylem-feeding insect vectors, such as the GWSS and the BGSS, during the feeding process. Once acquired, it colonizes the insect’s foregut and forms robust biofilms (indicated by white arrows). X. fastidiosa is transmitted to a new host plant when the insect vector feeds on a new plant and deposits X. fastidiosa cells directly into the plant xylem. X. fastidiosa achieves systemic colonization of the xylem by enzymatic degradation of the xylem pit membranes that connect adjacent xylem vessels. X. fastidiosa colonization induces prolific production of balloon-shaped defense-related protrusions called tyloses in the xylem. Systemic colonization and vessel occlusion by bacterial biofilms and excess tylose production lead to PD symptom development. Photo credit for the BGSS: Rodrigo Krugner. Photo credit for the xylem longitudinal sections: Qiang Sun. Pit membrane photo reprinted from Ingel et al., 2019, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions Vol. 32, No. 10: 14021414. Insect foregut image reprinted from Rapicavoli et al., 2015, Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol 81, No. 23: 81458154. Created with BioRender.com. BGSS, blue-green sharpshooter; GWSS, glassy-winged sharpshooter; PD, Pierce disease; PM, pit membrane; VW, vessel wall.

References

    1. Rapicavoli J, Ingel B, Blanco-Ulate B, Cantu D, Roper C. Xylella fastidiosa: an examination of a re-emerging plant pathogen. Mol Plant Pathol. 2017. doi: 10.1111/mpp.12585 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chatterjee S, Almeida RPP, Lindow S. Living in two Worlds: The Plant and Insect Lifestyles of Xylella fastidiosa. Annu Rev Phytopathol. 2008;46:243–71. doi: 10.1146/annurev.phyto.45.062806.094342 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Saponari M, Boscia D, Nigro F, Martelli GP. Identification of DNA sequences related to Xylella fastidiosa in oleander, almond and olive trees exhibiting leaf scorch symptoms in Apulia (Southern Italy). J Plant Pathol. 2013;95. Available from: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20153279019.
    1. Tumber K, Alston J, Fuller K. Pierce’s disease costs California $104 million per year. Calif Agric (Berkeley). 2014. Available from: http://calag.ucanr.edu/Archive/?article=ca.v068n01p20.
    1. Alston JM, Fuller KB, Kaplan JD, Tumber KP. Assessing the returns to R&D on perennial crops: the costs and benefits of Pierce’s disease research in the California winegrape industry. Aust J Agric Resour Econ. 2015;59:95–115.

Publication types

Supplementary concepts