Pierce's disease, caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., is widespread among muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Michx). To determine whether shoot-tip culture would be effective in eliminating X. fastidiosa, shoot tips of infected grape plants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium amended with 9-mu-m benzyladenine. Shoots and callus that developed tested negative for the presence of X. fastidiosa. Shoot-tip culture appears to be a promising method of obtaining muscadine grape plants free of Pierce's disease. Chemical name used: 6-benzylaminopurine (benzyladenine).