Commercial grapevine fruit (Vitis vinifera) of the Red Globe variety were collected in vineyards from Vale do São Francisco lower basin, an area of occurrence of grapevine bacterial canker. Seeds were extracted, classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic and processed in order to be observed under light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with silver-enhanced immunogold labeling, to allow bacterial detection using a policlonal antibody against Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola (Xcvi), etiological agent of the disease. The seed samples showed bacterial aggregates associated to the tegument surface and to the first parenchymal layer beneath the seed tegument. Bacterial identity was confirmed by immunogold labeling. This appears to be the first report of Xcvi associated to asymptomatic seeds and berries, suggesting a systemic mechanism to spread and colonize different tissues and sites, driving attention to seeds, presenting them as an important niche for survival and dissemination of this pathogen. These results point towards the need of including seed-bearing fruit in studies regarding Xcvi epidemiology.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a produção de anticorpos policlonais contra Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola e sua caracterização pelo método Elisa indireto. Os resultados apontaram a qualidade dos anticorpos policlonais produzidos, os quais mostraram-se altamente reativos e específicos para o patovar com potencial para ser empregado no diagnóstico da doença e em programas de certificação.

The objective of this work was to produce polyclonal antibodies against Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola and characterize these antibodies through Elisa serological indirect method. Results indicate that polyclonal antibodies produced were highly reactive against bacterial cells, showing specificity at the pathovar level and potential to be used for diagnosis and certification purposes.