Project Number: 1920-22000-037-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jul 12, 2007
End Date: Jul 11, 2012

Objective:
The long-term objective of this project is to characterize and develop rapid molecular-based protocols for detecting high-risk foreign plant pathogenic bacteria. During the next 5 years we will focus on collecting germplasm, characterize, fingerprint, and determine the taxonomy of high-risk foreign and domestic bacteria which may threaten U.S. agriculture through natural or deliberate introduction. We will collect cultures of Burkolderia andropogonis, B. glumae, B. caryophylli and B. gladioli and conduct sequencing, fingerprinting, and determine taxonomy. Citrus seedlings (infected with the non-cultureable Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, L. africanus, and L. americanus) will be collected, and we will develop a means to grow these fastidious organisms. Same-day on-site molecular techniques will be developed for rapid identification and detection of B. andropogonis, glumae, B. caryophylli, B. gladioli, L. asiaticus, L. africanus, and L. americanus.

Approach:
Collect and add new germplasm of domestic and foreign sources to the International Collection of Phytopathogenic Bacteria maintained at ARS/Ft. Detrick. Develop improved biosensors, DNA-based techniques including real-time PCR, and other novel techniques for rapid, sensitive detection and identification of bacteria. Determine the genetic profiles of foreign bacteria using molecular techniques, including DNA/DNA hybridization, AFLP, pulse gel electrophoresis, and sequencing. Various media designed for growing insect bacteria and phytoplasma will be tested for culturing Liberibacter.