PCR detection of an agent associated with yellow vine disease of cucurbits.
As reported in EPPO RS 98/111, a new disease of cucurbits called 'yellow vine' has recently been observed in central Texas and Oklahoma (US). Yellow vine disease of cucurbits is thought to be caused by a phloem-limited bacterium although is has not yet been possible to isolate, culture and transmit the pathogen. From field observations, it is also supposed that insect vectors may transmit the disease, but this could not be verified. However, a PCR method has been developed to detect the yellow vine agent in diseased plants. Results obtained with PCR suggest that the agent which is consistently associated with diseased plants is a prokaryote, and phylogenetic analysis showed that it is a gamma-3 proteobacterium closely related to Serratia marcescens (endophytic bacterium occurring in roots and stems of sweet maize and cotton) and is only distantly related to citrus greening bacterium.
Sources
Avila, F.J.; Bruton, B.D.; Fletcher, J.; Sherwood, J.L.; Pair, S.D.; Melcher, U. (1998) Polymerase chain reaction detection and phylogenetic characterization of an agent associated with yellow vine disease of cucurbits.
Phytopathology, 88(5), 428-436.