biostudies-literatureUnknown133(4)Fanton AC<h4>Background and aims</h4>Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is the xylem-dwelling bacterium associated with Pierce's disease (PD), which causes mortality in agriculturally important species, such as grapevine (Vitis vinifera). The development of PD symptoms in grapevines depends on the ability of Xf to produce cell-wall-degrading enzymes to break up intervessel pit membranes and systematically spread through the xylem vessel network. Our objective here was to investigate whether PD resistance could be mechanistically linked to xylem vessel network local connectivity.<h4>Methods</h4>We used high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) imaging to identify and describe the type, area and spatial distribution of intervessel connections for six different grapevine genotypes from three geneAnnals of botany521-532https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11037485biostudies-literatureXylem-dwelling pathogen unaffected by local xylem vessel network properties in grapevines (Vitis spp.).PMC11037485Brodersen CFanton ACBouda MfalseXylem-dwelling pathogen unaffected by local xylem vessel network properties in grapevines (Vitis spp.).<h4>Background and aims</h4>Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is the xylem-dwelling bacterium associated with Pierce's disease (PD), which causes mortality in agriculturally important species, such as grapevine (Vitis vinifera). The development of PD symptoms in grapevines depends on the ability of Xf to produce cell-wall-degrading enzymes to break up intervessel pit membranes and systematically spread through the xylem vessel network. Our objective here was to investigate whether PD resistance could be mechanistically linked to xylem vessel network local connectivity.<h4>Methods</h4>We used high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) imaging to identify and describe the type, area and spatial distribution of intervessel connections for six different grapevine genotypes from three gene2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Apr2025-04-04T01:35:54.99Z2025-04-04T01:35:54.99ZS-EPMC110374853833446610.1093/aob/mcae016