University of California, Davis

January 12, 2016

NEWLY IDENTIFIED ENZYME MAY BE THE CULPRIT IN PIERCE’S DISEASE GRAPEVINE DAMAGE

UC Davis plant scientists have identified an enzyme that appears to play a key role in the insect-transmitted bacterial infection of grapevines with Pierce’s disease, which annually costs California’s grape and wine industries more than $100 million.

The researchers hope that the discovery, which runs counter to existing theories, will lead to new diagnostics and potential treatments for Pierce’s disease. Continue reading