NPDN 2007 Meeting - Developing a strategy to rapidly identify a newly-introduced pest: The case of bacterial heart rot of pineapple in Hawaii

NPDN National Meeting 2007

Poster Abstract

Developing a strategy to rapidly identify a newly-introduced pest: The case of bacterial heart rot of pineapple in Hawaii

Authors: ANNE M. ALVAREZ (1), Wendy S. Kaneshiro (1), Asoka S. de Silva (1), Maren Burger (1), Glorimar Marrero (1), Susan P. Garner (1), Benjamin G. Vine (1), John M. Berestecky (2)

Affiliations: (1) University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA; (2) Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu, HI, USA

In December, 2003, an unanticipated outbreak in Hawaii of bacterial heart rot of pineapple, caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi (Ech), initiated an immediate regulatory response by local and federal officials where the destruction, quarantine, or approved entry of additional imported pineapple planting stock from Central America and the Philippines was debated. Key to the decision was determining whether the causal agent was a newly introduced strain imported on infected plants or a member of the Ech population currently present in Hawaii. A three-step plan was developed whereby the causal agent was identified, differentiated from other strains of the species, and then used to develop a rapid detection/identification assay. Pathogen confirmation was done with a polyphasic analysis utilizing bacteriological and pathogenicity tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Comparisons of DNA fingerprints of the Ech strains from pineapple and of Ech strains isolated from Hawaii indicated that those bacteria causing pineapple heart rot were most likely recent introductions from Central America. Monoclonal antibodies were then generated to Ech strains from pineapple for use in rapid identification assays to prevent future introductions, as well as to monitor the spread of introduced bacteria in the Hawaiian environment.

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