How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars
This study explores the interaction between endophytic communities and olive trees (Olea europaea L.) infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp), the causal agent of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS). A multidisciplinary approach was used to assess physiological markers (malondialdehyde, pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Plant Stress |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001927 |
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| author | Marzia Vergine Federico Vita Mariarosaria De Pascali Giambattista Carluccio Erika Sabella Alessandro Passera Paola Casati Luigi De Bellis Andrea Luvisi |
| author_facet | Marzia Vergine Federico Vita Mariarosaria De Pascali Giambattista Carluccio Erika Sabella Alessandro Passera Paola Casati Luigi De Bellis Andrea Luvisi |
| author_sort | Marzia Vergine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the interaction between endophytic communities and olive trees (Olea europaea L.) infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp), the causal agent of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS). A multidisciplinary approach was used to assess physiological markers (malondialdehyde, proline, total phenolics and flavonoids), pigment contents (Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids), relative water content (RWC), enzymatic activities (APX, CAT, T-SOD) as well as the diversity and composition of endophytes, in resistant (Leccino) and susceptible (Cellina di Nardò) olive cultivars at varying levels of Xfp infection. Trees were sampled in naturally infected orchards in Apulia (Southern Italy) and grouped by Xfp titer: control (≤10² cfu/mL), low (10³–10⁵), and high (≥10⁶).The results show consistent titer-dependent changes: pigment content and RWC decreased with increasing infection, while stress markers and carotenoids increased. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS regions revealed significant differences in microbial communities.The Cellina microbiome appeared highly variable and sensitive to infection levels, whereas Leccino exhibited a higher abundance and diversity of beneficial endophytes, including those known to produce antimicrobial compounds and promote plant health. Malondialdehyde data suggest lower oxidative damage in Leccino, reflecting enhanced stress tolerance. In contrast, the compromised endophytic structure in Cellina may exacerbate its vulnerability to Xfp. These findings suggest that Xfp modulates plant metabolism and, in turn, the endophytic community composition by inducing physiological changes in the host plant to counteract pathogen activity. These alterations may affect natural defence mechanisms, including the potential role of specific endophytes in enhancing resistance to Xfp. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f2c54dcc9a64d918340147f61fe7e81 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-064X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant Stress |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f2c54dcc9a64d918340147f61fe7e812025-08-23T04:49:29ZengElsevierPlant Stress2667-064X2025-09-011710092410.1016/j.stress.2025.100924How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivarsMarzia Vergine0Federico Vita1Mariarosaria De Pascali2Giambattista Carluccio3Erika Sabella4Alessandro Passera5Paola Casati6Luigi De Bellis7Andrea Luvisi8Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, 73100, ItalyDepartment of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari ''Aldo Moro'', Bari, Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, 73100, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, 73100, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, 73100, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, 73100, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, 73100, ItalyThis study explores the interaction between endophytic communities and olive trees (Olea europaea L.) infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp), the causal agent of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS). A multidisciplinary approach was used to assess physiological markers (malondialdehyde, proline, total phenolics and flavonoids), pigment contents (Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids), relative water content (RWC), enzymatic activities (APX, CAT, T-SOD) as well as the diversity and composition of endophytes, in resistant (Leccino) and susceptible (Cellina di Nardò) olive cultivars at varying levels of Xfp infection. Trees were sampled in naturally infected orchards in Apulia (Southern Italy) and grouped by Xfp titer: control (≤10² cfu/mL), low (10³–10⁵), and high (≥10⁶).The results show consistent titer-dependent changes: pigment content and RWC decreased with increasing infection, while stress markers and carotenoids increased. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS regions revealed significant differences in microbial communities.The Cellina microbiome appeared highly variable and sensitive to infection levels, whereas Leccino exhibited a higher abundance and diversity of beneficial endophytes, including those known to produce antimicrobial compounds and promote plant health. Malondialdehyde data suggest lower oxidative damage in Leccino, reflecting enhanced stress tolerance. In contrast, the compromised endophytic structure in Cellina may exacerbate its vulnerability to Xfp. These findings suggest that Xfp modulates plant metabolism and, in turn, the endophytic community composition by inducing physiological changes in the host plant to counteract pathogen activity. These alterations may affect natural defence mechanisms, including the potential role of specific endophytes in enhancing resistance to Xfp.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001927Physiological changesPlant microbiomeMetabarcodingOlive cultivars |
| spellingShingle | Marzia Vergine Federico Vita Mariarosaria De Pascali Giambattista Carluccio Erika Sabella Alessandro Passera Paola Casati Luigi De Bellis Andrea Luvisi How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars Plant Stress Physiological changes Plant microbiome Metabarcoding Olive cultivars |
| title | How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars |
| title_full | How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars |
| title_fullStr | How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars |
| title_short | How Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars |
| title_sort | how xylella fastidiosa subsp pauca influences endophytic communities and plant physiology in resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars |
| topic | Physiological changes Plant microbiome Metabarcoding Olive cultivars |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001927 |
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