Pierce's disease

American  

noun

Plant Pathology.

1. a disease of grapes caused by a rickettsialike organism, characterized by dwarfing of vines, mottling of woody tissues, and plant death.

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Etymology

Origin of Pierce's disease

Named after N. B. Pierce (died 1917), American plant pathologist

Example Sentences

Glassy-winged sharpshooters can also spread Pierce’s disease, though Pierce’s is caused by a different strain of X. fastidiosa.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 6, 2023

After 40 years of crossbreeding European grape varieties with wild grapes, a plant geneticist recently patented five hybrid grapes that appear to be resistant to Pierce's disease.

From Salon • Jul. 21, 2021

Those warnings went unheeded, Purcell said, and in 2017, Pierce's disease was first detected on the grapevines of the Spanish island of Mallorca, jeopardizing the future of winemaking there.

From Salon • Jul. 21, 2021

At the time, researchers were beginning to think Pierce's disease was caused by bacteria but had yet to pin down a culprit.

From Salon • Jul. 21, 2021

The wild plant carries a dominant gene that passes along Pierce's disease resistant traits to its offspring.

From Salon • Jul. 21, 2021