Lessons Learned From HLB as an Immune-Mediated Plant Disease

Abstract

How does the Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) cause damages to infected citrus trees has been widely debated. Our recent study demonstrates that HLB is a pathogen-triggered immune disease. We discovered that CLas infection of citrus stimulates systemic and chronic immune response in phloem tissues including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, callose deposition, induction of immune related genes. The finding of citrus HLB as an immune-mediated plant disease provides useful information to guide our battle against this notorious disease. Here I discuss horticultural and genetic approaches that can be used to suppress ROS damages and promote plant growth to alleviate the harms of HLB to citrus trees.

Keywords

• HLB Management
• Research