European Journal of Plant Pathology (2017) 147, 761-771

Davide Giovanardi, Davide Dallai and Emilio Stefani (2017)
Population features of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni from Prunus spp. orchards in northern Italy
European Journal of Plant Pathology 147 (4), 761-771
Abstract: Bacterial leaf/fruit spot and canker of stone fruits, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni, is a recurrent disease in Italy. A set of 23 strains has been isolated in peach and plum orchards in an intensively stone fruit cultivated area located in north-eastern Italy. They were all identified as X. arboricola pv. pruni by means of phytopathological and serological features: hypersensitive reaction on bean pods, pathogenicity test on immature peach or plum fruitlets, identification by immunofluorescence assay and conventional PCR. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequencing of the gyrB housekeeping gene of the isolates showed that they formed a unique clade, well characterised and separated from other xanthomonads. An insight into the genetic population features was attempted by rep-PCR analysis, using the ERIC, REP and BOX primers. The combined rep-PCR fingerprints showed a slight intra-pathovar variation within our isolates, which grouped in five close clusters. Copper resistance has been assessed in vitro for our whole X. arboricola pv. pruni collection, highlighting that two isolates show a level of resistance in vitro up to 200 ppm of copper. Nonetheless, the copLAB gene cluster, present in many other species of Xanthomonads, was not detected in any isolate, confirming the presence of a still unknown mechanism of copper detoxification in our Xanthomonads arboricola pv. pruni tolerant/resistant strains.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Davide Giovanardi, Emilio Stefani

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni	Peach/nectarine (Prunus persica)	Italy
	Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni	Plum/prune (Prunus domestica)	Italy