– The bacteria Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis is the causal agent of Goss’s Bacterial Wilt and Leaf Blight on susceptible dent corn, sweet corn, and popcorn varieties. This pathogen survives primarily on infested crop residues that serve as primary inoculum, however, seed-to-seedling transmission of Cmn has been observed at low rates. The Cmn bacteria is an incessant and economically-important pathogen of corn, and severe losses occur due to leaf blight and vascular wilt. Symptoms of Goss’s Wilt can be mistaken for leaf scorch due to water stress, wind desiccation, chemical burn, or a second bacterial disease known as Stewart’s Wilt.
The test can be performed remotely, or in the lab, using the battery operated AmpliFire fluorometer. Assay parameters are loaded via barcode and results are automatically displayed as ( + ) or ( – ). Prior molecular diagnostic experience is not required to perform AmplifyRP XRT tests.