On 4 April 2023, in the context of the “Xylella Files” spring seminars, professor of plant pathology at UC Riverside Caroline Roper will discuss her research on Defense Priming and Grapevine Immune Responses to Xylella fastidiosa.

“Priming” is a mechanism triggering an immune response in plants following a pathogen’s challenge. Microorganisms have signature microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) that induce the primed state.

Roper’s research demonstrates that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) MAMP isolated from the xylem-limited pathogenic bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, acts as a priming stimulus in Vitis vinifera grapevines. Consequently, grapevines “primed” with LPS harbored lower pathogen titer and developed significantly less disease than naive vines.

For more information on the webinar: Leonardo De La Fuente, lzd0005@auburn.edu.