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

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.

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Copper Supplementation in Watering Solution Reaches the Xylem But Does Not Protect Tobacco Plants Against Xylella fastidiosa Infection

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-08-19-1748-re ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 104 (3) ◽

pp. 724-730 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Qing Ge ◽

Paul A. Cobine ◽

Leonardo De La Fuente

Keyword(s):

Biofilm Formation ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Tap Water ◽

Xylella Fastidiosa ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Optical Emission ◽

In Planta ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

High Concentrations

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited plant pathogenic bacterium that causes disease in many crops worldwide. Copper (Cu) is an antimicrobial agent widely used on X. fastidiosa hosts to control other diseases. Although the effects of Cu for control of foliar pathogens are well known, it is less studied on xylem-colonizing pathogens. Previous results from our group showed that low concentrations of CuSO4 increased biofilm formation, whereas high concentrations inhibited biofilm formation and growth in vitro. In this study, we conducted in planta experiments to determine the influence of Cu in X. fastidiosa infection using tobacco as a model. X. fastidiosa-infected and noninfected plants were watered with tap water or with water supplemented with 4 mM or 8 mM of CuSO4. Symptom progression was assessed, and sap and leaf ionome analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectroscopy. Cu uptake was confirmed by increased concentrations of Cu in the sap of plants treated with CuSO4-amended water. Leaf scorch symptoms in Cu-supplemented plants showed a trend toward more severe at later time points. Quantification of total and viable X. fastidiosa in planta indicated that CuSO4-amended treatments did not inhibit but slightly increased the growth of X. fastidiosa. Cu in sap was in the range of concentrations that promote X. fastidiosa biofilm formation according to our previous in vitro study. Based on these results, we proposed that the plant Cu homeostasis machinery controls the level of Cu in the xylem, preventing it from becoming elevated to a level that would lead to bacterial inhibition.

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Assessment of Ionomic, Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds for a Sustainable Management of Xylella fastidiosa in Morocco

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13147818 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 7818

Author(s):

Kaoutar El Handi ◽

Majida Hafidi ◽

Khaoula Habbadi ◽

Maroun El Moujabber ◽

Mohamed Ouzine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Management ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Xylella Fastidiosa ◽

Optical Emission ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Risk Level ◽

Plant Responses ◽

Symptomatic Infection ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Additional Support

Morocco belongs to the countries ranked at a high-risk level for entry, establishment, and spread of Xylella fastidiosa, which has recently re-emerged as a plant pathogen of global importance causing olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS). Symptomatic infection by X. fastidiosa leads to devastating diseases and important economic losses. To prevent such losses and damages, countries without current outbreaks like Morocco need to first understand their host plant responses to X. fastidiosa. The assessment of the macro and micro-elements content (ionome) in leaves can give basic and useful information along with being a powerful tool for the sustainable management of diseases caused by this devastating pathogen. Herein, we compare the leaf ionome of four important autochthonous Moroccan olive cultivars (‘Picholine Marocaine’, ‘Haouzia’, ‘Menara’, and ‘Meslalla’), and eight Mediterranean varieties introduced in Morocco (‘Arbequina’, ‘Arbosana’, ‘Leccino’, ‘Ogliarola salentina’, ‘Cellina di Nardo’, ‘Frantoio’, ‘Leucocarpa’, and ‘Picholine de Languedoc’), to develop hypotheses related to the resistance or susceptibility of the Moroccan olive trees to X. fastidiosa infection. Leaf ionomes, mainly Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn, and P, were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). These varieties were also screened for their total phenolics and flavonoids content. Data were then involved in a comparative scheme to determine the plasticity of the pathogen. Our results showed that the varieties ‘Leccino’, ’Arbosana’, ‘Arbequina’ consistently contained higher Mn, Cu, and Zn and lower Ca and Na levels compared with the higher pathogen-sensitive ‘Ogliarola salentina’ and ‘Cellina di Nardò’. Our findings suggest that ‘Arbozana’, ‘Arbiquina’, ‘Menara’, and ‘Haouzia’ may tolerate the infection by X. fastidiosa to varying degrees, provides additional support for ‘Leccino’ having resistance to X. fastidiosa, and suggests that both ‘Ogliarola salentina’ and ‘Cellina di Nardö’ are likely sensitive to X. fastidiosa infection.

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