Genomics informed design of a suite of real‐time PCR assays for the specific detection of each <i>Xylella fastidiosa</i> subspecies

Abstract

At present, diagnosing the subspecies of X. fastidiosa requires multiple conventional PCR assays (although only available for three of the five subspecies) or multi-locus sequence typing which takes several days. By comparison, the new assays provide a substantial reduction in the turnaround time for direct identification to the subspecies level in as little as 75 min.