Novel and high-throughput diagnostic procedures to detect Xylella fastidia in planta and vectors developed within POnTE project.

The research activities of H2020 project POnTE partners explored serological and molecular methods to detect Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). Their efforts were devoted to optimize, standardize the procedures for sample preparation, purification of DNA, which are critical due to the presence of inhibitors in many host plants. Laboratories implemented internal comparative studies for accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, detection limit evaluation. As long with interlaboratories comparison tests, they permitted to assess performance criteria of the diagnostic methods. They allow to provide new set of data crucial to the revision of the EPPO Protocol (PM 7/24 (3)) and official methods