Project Number: 1275-22000-246-06
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 15, 2007
End Date: Aug 23, 2009

Objective:
Identify the pathogens associated with the potato zebra chip disease complex. Continue to document distribution of zebra chip disease in the U.S. Identify insect vectors and alternate hosts of the bacteria associated with zebra chip disease. Conduct studies to correlate the timing of infection with symptom expression and tuber transmission.

Approach:
Detect and identify the putative pathogens associated with symptomatic potato plants by PCR assays using specific primers currently available for the detection of phytoplasmas, and other vascular-limited bacteria. Correlate the putative pathogens with their presence in vascular tissues of symptomatic potato plants through electron microscopy study. Conduct pathogenicity tests through tissue grafting and inoculation trials with culturable bacteria. Determine the primary sources of pathogen inoculum and potential insect vectors that may transmit the pathogens. Determine whether the synergistic effects on symptom development are attributable to mixed infection of multiple pathogens. BL1, 9/21/06.