Towards the optimization of standardized assays for sampling and detection of citrus huanglongbing-associated bacteria.

A real-time PCR quantitative detection assay for Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. nerii in Nerium oleander

A real-time PCR assay based on TaqMan chemistry was developed for the detection of Pseudomonas savastanoi pathovars that cause bacterial knot disease on different plant species. Primers and probe sequences were based on the iaaL gene coding for (indole-3-acetyl)-L-lysine synthetase and previously used in conventional PCR tests. Assay specificity was tested with an extended range of strains of P. savastanoi from eight hosts, with 13 other Pseudomonas spp., and with other microorganisms naturally occurring on or in oleander plants. A pure culture cell suspension was quantifi ed over a seven log concentration range (108 to 102 cfu ml-1 ). Different protocols were developed for the detection an…

Characterization of p20 and p23 genes in Corsican isolates of Citrus tristeza virus.

Tristeza disease, caused by the Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), is the most important viral disease for almost all the citrus species. Main syndromes are quick decline, stem pitting, vein clearing and seedlings yellows but expression and intensity of symptomatology depends on the interactions of the factors involved in the pathosystem such as host-strain-rootstock-climate-vector. Several isolates of CTV have been studied all over the world. Two Corsican isolates have been previously characterized, the K strain from Marumi kumquat, known to be symptomless on Mexican lime, and the CaL -1 from calamondin inducing stem pitting, but no sequences of p20 gene are published or available in GenBank. Tw…