The University of Georgia (UGA) is conducting a study on phytopathologies in blueberry cultivation. Assistant professor, Jonathan Oliver, stated that the $ 7,000 grant awarded by the Georgia Farm Bureau will be used to study a new strain of the Xylella fastidiosa bacteria that affect blueberries and other crops, such as grapes, peaches, and nuts, as well as oaks and elms.
The pathogen obstructs the xylem, the plant's conductive tissue, which is essential for the transport of water and nutrients. As a result, the infected crop often shows symptoms, such as burns or drying of the leaves, which can be confused with drought damage. Oliver stressed that his study on the burning of bacterial leaves in blueberries led him to discover this new bacterial strain.
The grant will allow him and other researchers to evaluate the extent of the new strain of Xylella, its severity compared to the known strain, and how to determine management options. They are conducting tests in greenhouses to find out how likely it is that the pathogen infects different blueberry varieties.
Oliver said: "We hope that the relatively small studies we have been able to make on this pathogen help us better understand the threat it poses to blueberry production."
