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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #335053
Title: Functional characterization of the role of rpfA in Xylella fastidiosa

Author
item Lin, Hong
item Shi, Xiangyang

Submitted to: CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2016
Publication Date: 12/13/2016
Citation: Lin, H., Shi, X. 2016. Functional characterization of the role of rpfA in Xylella fastidiosa. CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium. p. 191.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa coordinates virulence in grapevines via quorum sensing signal molecules that are regulated and synthesized by the rpf gene cluster (regulation of pathogenicity factors). rpfA encodes aconitate hydratase and could play a regulator role involved in virulence. To elucidate the role of rpfA in the pathogenicity of Xylella fastidiosa, an rpfA-mutant (Xf'rpfA) and a complementary (Xf'rpfA-C) strain were characterized. In vitro studies showed that mutant Xf'rpfA exhibited increase in biofilm formation and cell-cell aggregation compared with wild-type. The complementary Xf'rpfA-C strain restored wild type phenotypes. These data suggest that the expression of rpfA may negatively modulate biofilm formation or other related virulence factors. Greenhouse experiments will be conducted to further evaluate the role of rpfA in development of Pierce’s disease.