Quantitative phenotyping of X-disease resistance in chokecherry using real-time PCR.

A quantitative real-time SYBR Green PCR (qPCR) assay has been developed to detect and quantify X-disease phytoplasmas in chokecherry. An X-disease phytoplasma-specific and high sensitivity primer pair was designed based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of X-disease phytoplasmas. This primer pair was specific to the 16SrIII group (X-disease) phytoplasmas.

Development and cross-species/genera transferability of microsatellite markers discovered using 454 genome sequencing in chokecherry (Prunus virginiana L.).

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana L.) (2n = 4x = 32) is a unique Prunus species for both genetics and disease-resistance research due to its tetraploid nature and X-disease resistance. However, no genetic and genomic information on chokecherry is available.

Expression of Inoculum and Family Specific Responses in the Ponderosa Pine-Western Gall Rust Pathosystem.

Host-pathogen interactions in the ponderosa pine-western gall rust pathosystem were studied using seedlings from eight open-pollinated mother-tree families and Peridermium harknessii aeciospores from two geographically separate sources. Pregall symptoms occurred on seedlings by 4 days after inoculation (DAI). Gall occurrence was essentially complete by 230 DAI.