ARS | Publication request: Establishing and fine-tuning an in planta system for potato zebra chip disease research in California

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2011
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Citation: Chen, J., Civerolo, E.L., Van Hest, P. 2011. Establishing and fine-tuning an in planta system for potato zebra chip disease research in California. In: Proceedings of the 10th Annual Zebra Chip Reporting Session. p. 115-119.

Technical Abstract: We have acquired an APHIS-PPQ permit to work on “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” at the USDA-ARS San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, California. “Ca. L. solanacearum”, associated with Zebra chip disease (ZCD) of potato. This bacterium is currently unculturable in vitro. Attempts have also been made to develop media to culture “Ca. L. solanacearum” in vitro following a published procedure for culturing citrus HLB-associated liberibacters with no success. Meanwhile, we are also working on culturing and / maintaining “Ca. L. solanacearum” in planta based on the currently available tissue culture procedures through collaboration. In another development, we have identified a location in California to collect “Ca. L. solanacearum”-infected potato. ZCD materials are maintained in a greenhouse. Grafting ZCD-affected potato to tomato plants has been successful. Unlike potato plants, affected tomato plants showed symptoms of leaf marginal chlorosis and stunting of young shoots, but did not succumb to the bacterial infection.