Century-old herbarium specimen provides insights into Pierce’s disease of grapevines emergence in the Americas

by staff | Jan 6, 2025 | Publications

Fossils and other preserved specimens are integral for informing timing and evolutionary history in every biological system. By isolating a plant pathogen genome from herbarium-preserved diseased grapevine material from 1906 (Herb_1906), we were able to answer...

Multiple genotypes of a quarantine plant pathogen detected in New Zealand indigenous plants located in a botanical garden overseas

by staff | Oct 27, 2024 | Publications

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited bacterial plant pathogen transmitted by insect vectors. It infects a wide range of plant species and causes devastating diseases. Botanical gardens are global repositories of plant diversity exposed to local biotic and abiotic...

Linking intercontinental biogeographic events to decipher how European vineyards escaped Pierce’s disease

by staff | Oct 2, 2024 | Publications

Global change is believed to be a major driver of the emergence of invasive pathogens. Yet, there are few documented examples that illustrate the processes that hinder or trigger their geographic spread. Here, we present phylogenetic, epidemiological and historical...

Complete circularized genome resources for Xylella fastidiosa subsp. sandyi strains CO33 and CFBP8478

by Staff | Mar 4, 2024 | Publications

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a vascular phytopathogenic bacterium native to the Americas, known for causing severe diseases and significant economic losses in important crops. In Europe, Xf is considered a quarantine pathogen. Since its first detection in 2013 in Italy,...

Complete genome assemblies of several Xylella fastidiosa subspecies multiplex strains reveals high phage content and novel plasmids

by staff | Feb 17, 2024 | Publications

The Gram-negative bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) was originally found in the Americas, but has now been identified in more than 20 countries across America, Asia, and Europe. This plant pathogen is currently listed as a priority pest in Europe due to its...