Interlaboratory validation of molecular and serological diagnosis of Xylella fastidiosa strain CoDiRO in susceptible host plants

Accurate detection of harmful plant pathogens that cause severe crop losses is critical for the successful control and management of emerging diseases. Following the recent outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa in the Apulia region (southern Italy), diagnostic protocols based on ELISA and conventional PCR were successfully used and adopted for large-scale surveys. However, a validation of these protocols for pathogen detection by different laboratories in diverse susceptible hosts is periodically needed to guarantee optimum sensitivity and reliability