Comparison of PCR,DIA and Pathogenicity Assay for Detection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri,the Causal Agent of Citrus Bacterial Canker Disease

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach based on newly designed primers, JYF5/JYR5, was applied for specific detection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri(Xac). The efficiency and reliability of PCR method were compared with dot immunobinding assay (DIA) and classical pathogenicity test techniques for detecting suspensions of pure cells of Xac and soaking sap of citrus tissues. Detection sensitivity of PCR was about 4.5 cells or 1.56 pg target DNA per reaction which was higher than that of DIA (ca. 450 cells per dot).These three techniques (PCR assay, DIA and Pathogenecity test) could always detect Xac from symptomatic citrus samples. Different performances were obtained from citrus materials without symptoms, and the positive detection frequency was PCR, DIA and pathogenicity test.