Chemical compounds effective against the citrus Huanglongbing bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' in planta

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most destructive diseases of citrus worldwide and is threatening the survival of the Floridian citrus industry. Currently, there is no established cure for this century-old and emerging disease. As a possible control strategy for citrus HLB, therapeutic compounds were screened using a propagation test system with 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'-infected periwinkle and citrus plants. The results demonstrated that the combination of penicillin and streptomycin (PS) was effective in eliminating or suppressing the 'Ca. L. asiaticus' bacterium and provided a therapeutically effective level of control for a much longer period of time than when administering either antibiotic separately. When treated with the PS, 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-infected periwinkle cuttings achieved 70% of regeneration rates versus <50% by other treatments. The 'Ca. L. asiaticus' bacterial titers in the infected periwinkle plants, as measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, decreased significantly following root soaking or foliar spraying with PS. Application of the PS via trunk injection or root soaking also eliminated or suppressed the 'Ca. L. asiaticus' bacterium in the HLB-affected citrus plants. This may provide a useful tool for the management of citrus HLB and other Liberibacter-associated diseases.     

Detection of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' in Diaphorina citri and its importance in the management of citrus huanglongbing in Florida

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening), is a highly destructive disease that has been spreading in both Florida and Brazil. Its psyllid vector, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, has spread to Texas and Mexico, thus threatening the future of citrus production elsewhere in mainland North America. Even though sensitive diagnostic methods have been developed for detection of the causal organisms, Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the pathogen cannot be detected consistently in plants until symptoms develop, presumably because of low titer and uneven distribution of the causal bacteria in nonsymptomatic tissues. In the present study, TaqMan based real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction methodology was developed for detection of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' in D. citri. Over 1,200 samples of psyllid adults and nymphs, collected from various locations in Florida, from visually healthy and HLB symptomatic trees at different times of the year were analyzed to monitor the incidence and spread of HLB. The results showed that spread of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' in an area may be detected one to several years before the development of HLB symptoms in plants. The study suggests that discount garden centers and retail nurseries may have played a significant role in the widespread distribution of psyllids and plants carrying HLB pathogens in Florida.     

Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification procedure as a sensitive and rapid method for detection of 'candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' in potatoes and Psyllids

This study reports the development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification procedure (LAMP) for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum', the bacterial causal agent of potato zebra chip (ZC) disease. The 16S rDNA gene of 'Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum' was used to design a set of six primers for LAMP PCR detection of the bacterial pathogen in potato plants and the psyllid vector. The advantage of the LAMP method is that it does not require a thermocycler for amplification or agarose gel electrophoresis for resolution. Positive LAMP results can be visualized directly as a precipitate. The LAMP strategy reported here reliably detected 'Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum' and the closely related species 'Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus', the causative agent of huanglongbing disease of citrus, in plant DNA extracts. Although not as sensitive as quantitative real-time PCR, LAMP detection was equivalent to conventional PCR in tests of ZC-infected potato plants from the field. Thus, the LAMP method shows strong promise as a reliable, rapid, and cost-effective method of detecting 'Ca. Liberibacter' pathogens in psyllids and field-grown potato plants and tubers.     

柑橘黄龙病菌在染病贡柑枝条和果实橘络内的分布规律

 柑橘黄龙病是柑橘生产上最具毁灭性的病害之一,由目前还无法分离培养的候选韧皮部杆菌亚洲种(“Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus”, CLas)引起的。早期研究表明CLas在染病柑橘植株内的分布并不均匀。为进一步探究CLas在染病枝条及果实内的空间分布规律,本研究以感染黄龙病的贡柑(带果实)枝条为材料,利用定量PCR(quantitative PCR, qPCR)分析同一枝条不同部位及果实橘络中的CLas浓度。结果表明,带果贡柑枝条不同部位的CLas分布不均匀且以果实橘络部位的CLas浓度最高(15 487.6 CLas cells/ng总DNA)。通过对同一橘络不同片段长度(每1.5 cm)中的CLas进行定量分析发现,同一橘络中的CLas同样呈不均匀分布(CLas个数范围:12 407~10 271 089)。此外,定量分析发现黄龙病引起的畸形果大小两侧橘络中的CLas浓度差异不显著。该结果可为探究CLas在柑橘枝条及果实中的转运规律提供参考。     

柑橘黄龙病菌在染病贡柑枝条和果实橘络内的分布规律

 柑橘黄龙病是柑橘生产上最具毁灭性的病害之一,由目前还无法分离培养的候选韧皮部杆菌亚洲种(“Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus”, CLas)引起的。早期研究表明CLas在染病柑橘植株内的分布并不均匀。为进一步探究CLas在染病枝条及果实内的空间分布规律,本研究以感染黄龙病的贡柑(带果实)枝条为材料,利用定量PCR(quantitative PCR, qPCR)分析同一枝条不同部位及果实橘络中的CLas浓度。结果表明,带果贡柑枝条不同部位的CLas分布不均匀且以果实橘络部位的CLas浓度最高(15 487.6 CLas cells/ng总DNA)。通过对同一橘络不同片段长度(每1.5 cm)中的CLas进行定量分析发现,同一橘络中的CLas同样呈不均匀分布(CLas个数范围:12 407~10 271 089)。此外,定量分析发现黄龙病引起的畸形果大小两侧橘络中的CLas浓度差异不显著。该结果可为探究CLas在柑橘枝条及果实中的转运规律提供参考。     

Colonization of citrus seed coats by 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus': implications for seed transmission of the bacterium

Huanglongbing is an economically damaging disease of citrus associated with infection by 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'. Transmission of the organism via infection of seeds has not been demonstrated but is a concern since some citrus varieties, particularly those used as rootstocks in commercial plantings are propagated from seed. We compared the incidence of detection of 'Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus' DNA in individual fruit peduncles, seed coats, seeds, and in germinated seedlings from 'Sanguenelli' sweet orange and 'Conners' grapefruit fruits sampled from infected trees. Using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) we detected pathogen DNA in nucleic acid extracts of 36 and 100% of peduncles from 'Sanguenelli' and from 'Conners' fruits, respectively. We also detected pathogen DNA in extracts of 37 and 98% of seed coats and in 1.6 and 4% of extracts from the corresponding seeds of 'Sanguenelli' and 'Conners', respectively. Small amounts of pathogen DNA were detected in 10% of 'Sanguenelli' seedlings grown in the greenhouse, but in none of 204 extracts from 'Conners' seedlings. Pathogen DNA was detected in 4.9% and in 89% of seed coats peeled from seeds of 'Sanguenelli' and 'Conners' which were germinated on agar, and in 5% of 'Sanguenelli' but in none of 164 'Conners' seedlings which grew from these seeds on agar. No pathogen DNA was detected in 'Ridge Pineapple' tissue at 3 months post-grafting onto 'Sanguenelli' seedlings, even when pathogen DNA had been detected initially in the 'Sanguenelli' seedling. Though the apparent colonization of 'Conners' seeds was more extensive and nearly uniform compared with 'Sanguenelli' seeds, no pathogen DNA was detected in 'Conners' seedlings grown from these seeds. For either variety, no association was established between the presence of pathogen DNA in fruit peduncles and seed coats and in seedlings.     

A phytoplasma closely related to the pigeon pea witches'-broom phytoplasma (16Sr IX) is associated with citrus huanglongbing symptoms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

In February 2007, sweet orange trees with characteristic symptoms of huanglongbing (HLB) were encountered in a region of S?o Paulo state (SPs) hitherto free of HLB. These trees tested negative for the three liberibacter species associated with HLB. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product from symptomatic fruit columella DNA amplifications with universal primers fD1/rP1 was cloned and sequenced. The corresponding agent was found to have highest 16S rDNA sequence identity (99%) with the pigeon pea witches'-broom phytoplasma of group 16Sr IX. Sequences of PCR products obtained with phytoplasma 16S rDNA primer pairs fU5/rU3, fU5/P7 confirm these results. With two primers D7f2/D7r2 designed based on the 16S rDNA sequence of the cloned DNA fragment, positive amplifications were obtained from more than one hundred samples including symptomatic fruits and blotchy mottle leaves. Samples positive for phytoplasmas were negative for liberibacters, except for four samples, which were positive for both the phytoplasma and 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'. The phytoplasma was detected by electron microscopy in the sieve tubes of midribs from symptomatic leaves. These results show that a phytoplasma of group IX is associated with citrus HLB symptoms in northern, central, and southern SPs. This phytoplasma has very probably been transmitted to citrus from an external source of inoculum, but the putative insect vector is not yet known.     

Tissue‐print and squash real‐time PCR for direct detection of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ species in citrus plants and psyllid vectors

Huanglongbing (HLB) disease is seriously threatening and/or damaging the citrus industry worldwide. Accurate detection of the three species associated with HLB disease, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter africanus’ and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’, is essential for the preventive control of the disease. Real‐time PCR is a useful tool for bacterial detection. However, nucleic acid purification steps limit the number of samples that can be processed by PCR. Universal detection of ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ species was achieved by direct tissue‐printing and spotting of plant leaf petiole extracts or squashing of individual psyllids onto paper or nylon membranes. Primers were designed and used with TaqMan chemistry for accurate detection of the bacterium in immobilized targets (prints of 10 overlapping leaf pedicels per tree, or squashed single vectors), by extraction with water and direct use for real‐time PCR. This simplified method was validated and could detect HLB‐liberibacters in 100% of leaves with symptoms and 59% of symptomless leaves collected from HLB‐infected trees. The use of direct assays as template showed good agreement with use of purified DNA (κ = 0·76 ± 0·052). The squash assay allowed detection of the bacterium in 40% of mature Diaphorina citri that fed on leaves of HLB‐infected trees with or without symptoms. A commercial ready‐made kit based on this technology showed 96% accuracy in intra‐laboratory performance studies. The simplified direct methods of sample preparation presented herein can be effectively adopted for use in rapid screening of HLB agents in extensive surveys, certification schemes or for epidemiological and research studies.     

柑橘黄龙病常规PCR检测技术研究与初步应用

柑橘黄龙病是世界范围具有毁灭性危害的柑橘细菌性病害,在我国大部分柑橘产区发生,严重制约了我国柑橘产业的发展。本文根据黄龙病病原物亚洲韧皮杆菌核糖体16SrRNA基因设计了1对PCR引物HLBF468/HLBR877,并以此为基础建立了常规PCR反应体系,确定了检测体系的特异性和灵敏度。结果表明该体系的检测灵敏度比先前报道的常规PCR方法有了明显提高。利用建立的PCR体系完成了对广东和广西两省区果园柑橘黄龙病的抽样检测。本研究建立的常规PCR方法可以作为一种简便、准确、灵敏的检测技术应用于柑橘黄龙病的早期诊断。     

柑橘黄龙病病原研究进展

本文对柑橘黄龙病(HLB)的发现、认识过程及病原菌的分类、检测鉴定技术进行了综述。HLB是一种十分严重的柑橘病害,主要通过木虱和嫁接进行传播,在不同的地区和国家具有不同的名字,已统一命名为HLB。对引起HLB的原因探索经历了一个漫长的过程,从水害、缺素、镰刀菌、病毒到类菌原体,最后确定为细菌。该病原属于α-亚纲,韧皮部杆菌属,分为亚洲种、非洲种和美洲种3个种,可以通过PCR技术进行检测鉴定。同时,对韧皮杆菌的人工培养以及与黄龙病相关植原体的最新研究进展进行了阐述。     

黄龙病菌在柑橘枝条上的分布和多样性分析

 柑橘黄龙病是由“Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus”(CLas)引起的毁灭性病害,在染病植株的叶片和果实上表现出不同症状。但目前还未见在同一植株或枝条上表现不同症状的叶片或果实中的CLas是否存在多样性的报道。本研究分析来自美国佛罗里达与中国广东两地染病柑橘样品,发现佛罗里达的CLas遗传多样性较低。以3对位于CLas短串联重复位点两端的序列为引物,对广东柑橘黄龙病病株的样品进行PCR扩增和PAGE检测,结果发现:同一植株上的CLas多样性高于同一枝条;同一病枝上显不同症状的叶片和果实中的CLas浓度分布不均匀,但成熟病果中CLas的浓度最高。以同一病枝条为一个组,PCR扩增和PAGE检测53个枝条的样品,发现不同组间CLas多样性不一:3对引物扩增条件下分别有4组(7.55%)、7组(13.21%)和11组(20.75%)样品存在组间多样性,推测同一枝条中含有不同的CLas菌株。以上结果说明了CLas在柑橘枝条上的分布规律,为监测我国CLas的多样性提供了科学依据。     

Quantification of viable <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Liberibacter asiaticus in hosts using quantitative PCR with the aid of ethidium monoazide (EMA)

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease of citrus known to be associated with a fastidious, phloem-limited Gram-negative, yet to be cultured bacterium in the genus Candidatus Liberibacter. In the present study we have developed a method to quantify viable Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) with the aid of ethidium monoazide (EMA) which can differentiate live from dead cells. First, calibration curves were developed with the aid of quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) by using a plasmid template consisting of a 703 bp DNA fragment of rplKAJL-rpoBC (β-operon) region. Standard equations were then developed to quantify Las genome equivalents in citrus, periwinkle, and Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. To overcome the limitation of quantitative PCR in discriminating between live and dead bacterial cells, EMA was used to inhibit the amplification of DNA from the dead cells of Las in plant samples. By using the standard equations and EMA-QPCR methods developed in this study, we found that the proportion of viable cells in citrus and periwinkle ranged from 17–31% and 16–28%, respectively. It was determined that a minimum bacterial concentration is required for HLB symptom development by quantifying the population of Las in symptomatic and asymptomatic leaves. The EMA-QPCR methodology developed in the present study should provide an accurate assessment of viable HLB pathogen, providing a tool to investigate disease epidemiology and thus act as a crucial component for disease assessment and management. The authors P. Trivedi and U. S. Sagaram contributed equally to this work.     

Detection by PCR of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the bacterium causing citrus huanglongbing in vector psyllids: application to the study of vector–pathogen relationships

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB), previously called greening, is a serious citrus disease in Asia, eastern and southern Africa. It is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), a phloem-limited, nonculturable bacterium transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid ( Diaphorina citri ) in Asia. A PCR-based assay was developed for monitoring Las in vector psyllids using a rapid DNA extraction from psyllid bodies and PCR amplification. The entire procedure for Las detection in psyllids can be completed within 5 h. Using this method, Las can be accurately detected in psyllid adults as well as nymphs in different instar stages. The assay is sensitive enough for Las detection in single-psyllid extract from adult, fifth, fourth and third instars. In a transovarial transmission experiment, Las was not detected in eggs or in offspring produced by Las-carrying psyllid females. In a retention test, the Las-carrying psyllids remained Las-positive for 12 weeks after they were moved to common jasmine orange, a Las-immune plant. From these experimental results it was concluded that Las persists in the Asian citrus psyllid vector, but is not transovarially transmitted by the vector. These data help in understanding epidemiological characteristics of Las and psyllids in citrus HLB.     

Widespread occurrence of “Candidatus liberibacter africanus subspecies capensis” in Calodendrum capense in South Africa

Recent studies in citrus orchards confirmed that Citrus Greening, a heat sensitive citrus disease, similar to Huanglongbing (HLB), is associated with the presence of ??Candidatus Liberibacter africanus?? (Laf) in South Africa. Neither ??Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus?? (Las), associated with HLB, ??Candidatus Liberibacter americanus??, nor ??Candidatus Liberibacter africanus ssp. capensis?? (LafC), previously detected in the Western Cape, South Africa on an indigenous Rutaceous species, Calodendrum capense (L. f.) Thunb. (Cape Chestnut), were detected in citrus. The current study aims to determine the potential role of C. capense in the epidemiology of Citrus Greening in South Africa and whether LafC poses a risk to citriculture. A total of 278?C. capense samples were collected throughout South Africa and tested for Liberibacters using real-time PCR. While LafC was found in 100 samples, distributed from all areas where collected, no evidence of Laf infection in any sample was found . The identity of the LafC present was confirmed by sequencing the amplicon derived from conventional PCR of the ?-operon of the ribosomal protein gene region of the first 17 infected trees found and of a representative sample from each district. The Liberibacter status of 44?C. capense and 272 citrus (Midnight Valencia) trees growing in close proximity to each other for over 15?years was determined. Out of 44?C. capense specimens, 43 were infected with LafC, but none of the citrus trees were infected with LafC. Based on the results of this it appears that natural spread of LafC to citrus does not occur.     

中国不同地区亚洲韧皮杆菌遗传多样性分析

 柑桔黄龙病是最严重的柑桔病害之一,现已威胁世界柑桔产业。已被证实在中国南部该病害通过嫁接和木虱传播。因此黄龙病的流行病学研究就显得尤为重要。本研究中,基于外膜蛋白(omp)基因的PCR-RFLP的方法被用来研究中国南部各柑桔主产区的亚洲韧皮部杆菌的遗传多样性。研究采用不同的限制性内切酶消化各地区的亚洲韧皮部杆菌的omp基因产生了不同的RFLP指纹图谱,并对各地亚洲韧皮部杆菌的omp基因进行克隆测序然后构建系统发育树。结果显示:中国不同地理区域的亚洲韧皮部杆菌具有一定的遗传多样性,即便在某一特定的地区也有一定的差异。序列分析显示中国地区的亚洲韧皮部杆菌有很高的同源性。这些结果对揭示中国柑桔黄龙病的流行病学及制定科学有效的防治策略具有一定的指导意义。     

Sequence and evolutionary analysis of ribosomal DNA from Huanglongbing (HLB) isolates of Western India

Citrus greening (Huanglongbing, HLB) is a widespread and economically important citrus disease all over the world. The disease is caused by a phloem-limited fastidious gram negative bacterium, “Candidatus Liberibacter spp.” which belongs to the alpha-proteobacteria group classified on the basis of its 16SrDNA sequence. Although the pathogen has been classified under three distinct groups, viz. Asian, African and American isolates, nothing is known about the status and the molecular variabilities among the Indian HLB isolates collected from different citrus cultivars grown in India. Five different HLB isolates showing variable symptoms based on their severity of infection on different citrus, viz. Mosambi, Rangpur lime, Cleopatra mandarin, acid lime and rough lemon, were studied by PCR amplification, sequence and evolutionary analysis of their 16S and 16S/23S rDNA intergenic regions. Analysis of the 16S/23S rDNA intergenic region separated all five Indian isolates from existing African isolates but failed to differentiate among Asian, American and Indian isolates. However, further analysis of complete 16S rDNA clearly indicated that Indian isolates fall within the Asian HLB group. Overall, our results suggest that all the five Indian HLB isolates taken for the current analysis belong to the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus strain, which showed distinct sequence variabilities and produced noticeable symptoms on the citrus trees. These results provide a robust framework for understanding how differences in pathogenicity among various HLB isolates may be related to evolutionary history.     

应用多重PCR技术同步检测柑橘4种重要嫁接传播病原

 柑橘衰退病毒(Citrus tristeza virus,CTV),柑橘碎叶病毒(Citrus tatter\|leaf virus,CTLV),柑橘裂皮病类病毒(Citrus exocortis viroid,CEVd)和柑橘黄龙病(Huanglongbing, HLB)亚洲种病原(Candidatus liberobacter asiaticus)是重要的柑橘嫁接传播病原。本文建立了同时检测HLB病菌、CTV、CEVd 和CTLV 4种柑橘嫁接病原的一步法、双温多重PCR检测技术体系,同时在体系中设置内参基因。应用该体系快速评价了4种嫁接传播病原在田间侵染情况,结果表明28个田间样品CTV、CEVd、CTLV和HLB感染率分别为89.3 %、17.9 %、10.7 %和28.6 %,接近半数样品为混合感染。并且将该方法应用于快速评价茎尖嫁接苗病毒的脱除情况。     

江西省大余县柑橘黄龙病菌PCR检测

采用PCR扩增和核苷酸序列测定技术,对分别采自江西省大余县青龙镇郭屋坝果园和丰顺果园的各5份疑似柑橘黄龙病样品进行病原检测。结果表明:2个青龙郭屋坝果园样品中检测到柑橘黄龙病菌,分别命名为DY-LAS01和DY-LAS02,其他8份样品中则未检测到该病菌。此结果表明大余县已有柑橘黄龙病发生,希望引起当地有关部门的高度重视。     

Seven years of negative detection results confirm that Xylella fastidiosa,the causal agent of CVC,is not transmitted from seeds to seedlings

Knowledge about the mechanism of transmission of systemic pathogens of citrus species is highly important for the safe movement of citrus germplasm, management of citrus mother trees, and also production of young plants. Among systemic pathogens of citrus, Xylella fastidiosa the causal agent of the citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), is one the most important pathogens causing decline in tree vigour and productivity. Seven-year experiments were conducted to evaluate the hypothesis of seed-to-seedling transmission of X. fastidiosa. This bacterium was found colonizing the fruit (exocarp, central axis and mesocarp) and the seed parts (seed coat and endosperm plus embryo). After 7 years of PCR assay, no positive PCR detection of X. fastidiosa was confirmed in seedlings propagated from the seeds infected with X. fastidiosa. This result demonstrates the lack of seed-to-seedling transmission of this bacterium.     

浙江柑橘黄龙病病原β-操纵子核糖体蛋白基因的PCR检测及其序列比对

长期的观察发现,不同柑橘品种感染黄龙病后出现的病症也不尽相同,针对这种现象本文检测了浙江柑橘黄龙病病原β-操纵子核糖体蛋白基因并进行了序列比对,BLAST比对结果说明所扩增的基因序列之间差异性为0,与基因库(NCBI)中黄龙病亚洲韧皮杆菌DNA序列相似性为100％,由此说明浙江柑橘黄龙病病原β-操纵子核糖体蛋白基因并未发生变异,出现上述现象可能是其他基因发生变异或者与品种的抗病性有关。