scholarly journals Aphrophoridae Role in Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 Invasion in Southern Italy

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1035
Author(s):  
Ugo Picciotti ◽  
Nada Lahbib ◽  
Valdete Sefa ◽  
Francesco Porcelli ◽  
Francesca Garganese
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Xylem Sap ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Transmission Control ◽  
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome ◽  
Olive Trees

The Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera Aphrophoridae) is a xylem-sap feeder vector that acquires Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 during feeding on infected plants. The bacterium is the plant pathogen responsible for olive quick decline syndrome that has decimated olive trees in Southern Italy. Damage originates mainly from the insect vector attitude that multiplies the pathogen potentialities propagating Xf in time and space. The principal action to manage insect-borne pathogens and to contain the disease spread consists in vector and transmission control. The analysis of an innovative and sustainable integrated pest management quantitative strategy that targets the vector and the infection by combining chemical and physical control means demonstrates that it is possible to stop the Xylella invasion. This review updates the available topics addressing vectors’ identification, bionomics, infection management, and induced disease by Xylella invasion to discuss major available tools to mitigate the damage consequent to the disease.

scholarly journals Bacterial and plant produced lipids can exacerbate the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome caused by Xylella

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Scala ◽  
Nicoletta Pucci ◽  
Manuel Salustri ◽  
Vanessa Modesti ◽  
Alessia L’Aurora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Cell Density ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Bacterial Biofilm ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome

AbstractXylella fastidiosa is an insect vector-transmitted bacterial plant pathogen associated with severe diseases in a wide range of plants. In last decades, X. fastidiosa was detected in several European countries. Among X. fastidiosa subspecies, here we study X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca associated with the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) causing severe losses in Southern Italy. First, we collected Olea europaea L. (cv. Ogliarola salentina) samples in groves located in infected zones and uninfected zones. Secondly, the untargeted LC-TOF analysis of the lipid profiles of OQDS positive (+) and negative (-) plants showed a significant clustering of OQDS+ samples apart from OQDS-ones. Thirdly, using HPLC-MS/MS targeted methods and chemometric analysis, we identified a shortlist of 10 lipids significantly different in the infected versus healthy samples. Last, we observed a clear impact on X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca growth and biofilm formation in vitro liquid cultures supplemented with these compounds.Considering that growth and biofilm formation are primary ways by which X. fastidiosa causes disease, our results demonstrate that lipids produced as part of the plant’s immune response can exacerbate the disease. This is reminiscent of an allergic reaction in animal systems, offering the depression of plant immune response as a potential strategy for OQDS treatment.Author summaryGlobal trade and climate change are re-shaping the distribution map of pandemic pathogens. One major emerging concern is Xylella fastidiosa, a tropical bacterium recently introduced into Europe from America. Its impact has been dramatic: in the last 5-years only, Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) has caused thousands of 200 years old olive trees to be felled in the southern Italy. Xylella fastidiosa through a tight coordination of the adherent biofilm and the planktonic states, invades the host systemically. The planktonic phase is correlated to low cell density and vessel colonization. Increase in cell density triggers a quorum sensing system based on cis 2-enoic fatty acids—diffusible signalling factors (DSF) that promote stickiness and biofilm. Xylem vessels are occluded by the combined effect of bacterial biofilm and plant defences (e.g. tyloses). This study provides novel insight on how X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca biology relates to the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome. We found that some class of lipids increase their amount in the infected olive tree. These lipid entities, provided to X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca behave as hormone-like molecules: modulating the dual phase, e.g. planktonic versus biofilm. Probably, part of these lipids represents a reaction of the plant to the bacterial contamination.

scholarly journals HPLC-MS/MS method applied to an untargeted metabolomics approach for the diagnosis of “olive quick decline syndrome”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Di Masi ◽  
Giuseppe E. De Benedetto ◽  
Cosimino Malitesta ◽  
Maria Saponari ◽  
Cinzia Citti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Long Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Powerful Approach ◽  
Diffusible Signal Factor ◽  
Profile Changes ◽  
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome ◽  
Olive Trees

AbstractOlive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) is a disorder associated with bacterial infections caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 in olive trees. Metabolic profile changes occurring in infected olive trees are still poorly investigated, but have the potential to unravel reliable biomarkers to be exploited for early diagnosis of infections. In this study, an untargeted metabolomic method using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS) was used to detect differences in samples (leaves) from healthy (Ctrl) and infected (Xf) olive trees. Both unsupervised and supervised data analysis clearly differentiated the groups. Different metabolites have been identified as potential specific biomarkers, and their characterization strongly suggests that metabolism of flavonoids and long-chain fatty acids is perturbed in Xf samples. In particular, a decrease in the defence capabilities of the host after Xf infection is proposed because of a significant dysregulation of some metabolites belonging to flavonoid family. Moreover, oleic acid is confirmed as a putative diffusible signal factor (DSF). This study provides new insights into the host-pathogen interactions and confirms LC-HRMS-based metabolomics as a powerful approach for disease-associated biomarkers discovery in plants. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals Increase in ring width, vessel number and δ18O in olive trees infected with Xylella fastidiosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1583-1594
Author(s):  
Erika Sabella ◽  
Samuele Moretti ◽  
Holger Gärtner ◽  
Andrea Luvisi ◽  
Luigi De Bellis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Susceptible Cultivar ◽  
Water Conductivity ◽  
Leaf Transpiration ◽  
Leaf Level ◽  
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
Tree Stem

Abstract Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) Wells, Raju et al., 1986 is a bacterium that causes plant diseases in the Americas. In Europe, it was first detected on the Salento Peninsula (Italy), where it was found to be associated with the olive quick decline syndrome. Here, we present the results of the first tree-ring study of infected and uninfected olive trees (Olea europaea L.) of two different cultivars, one resistant and one susceptible, to establish the effects induced by the spread of the pathogen inside the tree. Changes in wood anatomical characteristics, such as an increase in the number of vessels and in ring width, were observed in the infected plants of both the cultivars Cellina di Nardò (susceptible to Xf infection) and Leccino (resistant to Xf infection). Thus, whether infection affects the mortality of the tree or not, the tree shows a reaction to it. The presence of occlusions was detected in the wood of both 4-year-old branches and the tree stem core. As expected, the percentage of occluded vessels in the Xf-susceptible cultivar Cellina di Nardò was significantly higher than in the Xf-resistant cultivar Leccino. The δ 18O of the 4-year-old branches was significantly higher in infected trees of both cultivars than in noninfected trees, while no variations in δ 13C were observed. This suggests a reduction in leaf transpiration rates during infection and seems to be related to the occlusions observed in rings of the 4-year-old branches. Such occlusions can determine effects at leaf level that could influence stomatal activity. On the other hand, the significant increase in the number of vessels in infected trees could be related to the tree’s attempt to enhance water conductivity in response to the pathogen-induced vessel occlusions.

scholarly journals The Xylella fastidiosa-Resistant Olive Cultivar “Leccino” Has Stable Endophytic Microbiota during the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS)

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzia Vergine ◽  
Joana B. Meyer ◽  
Massimiliano Cardinale ◽  
Erika Sabella ◽  
Martin Hartmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Olive Cultivar ◽  
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
Potential Interactions ◽  
Highly Virulent

Xylella fastidiosa is a highly virulent pathogen that causes Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS), which is currently devastating olive plantations in the Salento region (Apulia, Southern Italy). We explored the microbiome associated with X. fastidiosa-infected (Xf-infected) and -uninfected (Xf-uninfected) olive trees in Salento, to assess the level of dysbiosis and to get first insights into the potential role of microbial endophytes in protecting the host from the disease. The resistant cultivar “Leccino” was compared to the susceptible cultivar “Cellina di Nardò”, in order to identify microbial taxa and parameters potentially involved in resistance mechanisms. Metabarcoding of 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS2 was used to characterize both total and endophytic microbiota in olive branches and leaves. “Cellina di Nardò” showed a drastic dysbiosis after X. fastidiosa infection, while “Leccino” (both infected and uninfected) maintained a similar microbiota. The genus Pseudomonas dominated all “Leccino” and Xf-uninfected “Cellina di Nardò” trees, whereas Ammoniphilus prevailed in Xf-infected “Cellina di Nardò”. Diversity of microbiota in Xf-uninfected “Leccino” was higher than in Xf-uninfected “Cellina di Nardò”. Several bacterial taxa specifically associated with “Leccino” showed potential interactions with X. fastidiosa. The maintenance of a healthy microbiota with higher diversity and the presence of cultivar-specific microbes might support the resistance of “Leccino” to X. fastidiosa. Such beneficial bacteria might be isolated in the future for biological treatment of the OQDS.

scholarly journals Diversity Evaluation of Xylella fastidiosa from Infected Olive Trees in Apulia (Southern Italy)

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania M. Mang ◽  
Salvatore Frisullo ◽  
Hazem S. Elshafie ◽  
Ippolito Camele
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
Diversity Evaluation

scholarly journals Ionomic Differences between Susceptible and Resistant Olive Cultivars Infected by Xylella fastidiosa in the Outbreak Area of Salento, Italy

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giusy D’Attoma ◽  
Massimiliano Morelli ◽  
Pasquale Saldarelli ◽  
Maria Saponari ◽  
Annalisa Giampetruzzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Host Genotype ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Outbreak Area ◽  
Olive Cultivars ◽  
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome ◽  
Olive Trees

Olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) is a devastating disease of olive trees in the Salento region, Italy. This disease is caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which is widespread in the outbreak area; however, the “Leccino” variety of olives has proven to be resistant with fewer symptoms and lower bacterial populations than the “Ogliarola salentina” variety. We completed an empirical study to determine the mineral and trace element contents (viz; ionome) of leaves from infected trees comparing the two varieties, to develop hypotheses related to the resistance of Leccino trees to X. fastidiosa infection. All samples from both cultivars tested were infected by X. fastidiosa, even if leaves were asymptomatic at the time of collection, due to the high disease pressure in the outbreak area and the long incubation period of this disease. Leaves were binned for the analysis by variety, field location, and infected symptomatic and infected asymptomatic status by visual inspection. The ionome of leaf samples was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and compared with each other. These analyses showed that Leccino variety consistently contained higher manganese (Mn) levels compared with Ogliarola salentina, and these levels were higher in both infected asymptomatic and infected symptomatic leaves. Infected asymptomatic and infected symptomatic leaves within a host genotype also showed differences in the ionome, particularly a higher concentration of calcium (Ca) and Mn levels in the Leccino cultivar, and sodium (Na) in both varieties. We hypothesize that the ionome differences in the two varieties contribute to protection against disease caused by X. fastidiosa infection.

scholarly journals Transmission of Xylella fastidiosa Subspecies Pauca Sequence Type 53 by Different Insect Species

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Cavalieri ◽  
Giuseppe Altamura ◽  
Giulio Fumarola ◽  
Michele di Carolo ◽  
Maria Saponari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Xylem Sap ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Philaenus Spumarius ◽  
Olive Groves ◽  
Sap Feeding ◽  
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome ◽  
Exotic Pathogen

Diseases associated with Xylella fastidiosa have been described mostly in North and South America. However, during the last five years, widespread X. fastidiosa infections have been reported in a constrained area of the Apulia region (southern Italy), in olives trees suffering a severe disease, denoted as Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS). Because many xylem sap-feeding insects can function as vectors for the transmission of this exotic pathogen in EU, several research programs are ongoing to assess the role of candidate vectors in the spread of the infections. Initial investigations identified Philaenus spumarius (L.) as the predominant vector species in the olive orchards affected by the OQDS. Additional experiments have been carried out during 2016 and 2017 to assess the role of other species. More specifically, adults of the spittlebugs Philaenus italosignus Drosopolous and Remane, Neophilaenus campestris (Fallen) and of the planthopper Latilica tunetana (Matsumura) (Issidae) have been tested in transmission experiments to assess their ability to acquire the bacterium from infected olives and to infect different susceptible hosts (olives, almond, myrtle –leaf milkwort, periwinkle). Acquisition rates determined by testing individual insects in quantitative PCR assays, ranging from 5.6% in N. campestris to 22.2% in P. italosignus, whereas no acquisition was recorded for L. tunetana. Successful transmissions were detected in the recipient plants exposed to P. italosignus and N. campestris, whereas no trasmissions occurred with L. tunetana. The known vector Philaenus spumarius has been included in all the experiments for validation. The systematic surveys conducted in 2016 and 2017 provided further evidence on the population dynamics and seasonal abundance of the spittlebug populations in the olive groves.

scholarly journals An Evaluation of Monitoring Surveys of the Quarantine Bacterium Xylella Fastidiosa Performed in Containment and Buffer Areas of Apulia, Southern Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Scortichini ◽  
Gianluigi Cesari
Keyword(s):  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Detection Techniques ◽  
Olive Trees

Introduction: Xylella fastidiosa is a quarantine phytopathogen for the European Plant Protection Organization and currently infects olive trees in the Apulia region (southern Italy). Upon the Implementing Decision of the European Union 2016/764 of May 12, 2016, extensive monitoring surveys were performed on approximately 190 000 ha to ascertain the possible occurrence of X. fastidiosa. Objectives: The primary objectives of the analysis were to start to collect epidemiological data on X. fastidiosa occurrence in areas far from the initial outbreaks and discuss the results of the pathogen detection. Methods: A total of 220 279 olive trees were inspected. Basic information on farm and trees management was obtained. A total of 13 706 olive trees were analyzed through serological and molecular techniques to verify the possible occurrence of the bacterium. Results: The cultivars “Nociara,” “Cima di Melfi,” and “Cellina di Nardò” showed the highest occurrence of decline symptoms. Tree age appears to be related to the incidence of decline symptoms. Olive trees growing in well-managed soils showed fewer symptoms than trees cultivated in farms where such agronomic techniques are not regularly performed. X. fastidiosa was detected in 2078 samples taken from symptomatic trees and 1653 samples obtained from asymptomatic trees. In 3300 samples taken from symptomatic trees, the bacterium was not detected. Conclusions: Implementation and utilization of reliable in situ detection techniques could increase the number of sampled trees in each plot, thus allowing a more extensive and robust assessment of X. fastidiosa–infected plants in areas where the pathogen inoculums are still low.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document