The citrus greening disease (also called huanglongbing) has devastated the Florida citrus industry, and is now in CA and TX. Fruit from infected trees is safe to eat, but production is reduced so much that citrus may cease to be inexpensive and broadly available. If you are a citrus lover you should know that massive research efforts, including this project, are underway to keep citrus affordable and plentiful. See impact on US production..

Citrus Greening Solutions is a USDA NIFA project.



Credit: Cilia lab

News
USDA NIFA funds NMC Inc. led project for practical solutions for HLB treatment and prevention
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded 12 grants totaling over $45 million for research to combat Huanglongbing (HLB). There are more details at the CRIS site about projects funded in FY2020. Press release for the NMC led project can be found at the Texas A&M Kingsville website.
Longitudinal Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Metabolomic Analysis of Citrus limon Response to Graft Inoculation by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus
The most dramatic differences between the transcriptome and proteome of CLas-infected and control plants were observed at 10 wpg, including coordinated increases in transcripts and proteins of citrus orthologs of known plant defense genes. This integrated approach to quantifying plant molecular changes in leaves of CLas-infected plants supports the development of diagnostic technology for presymptomatic or early disease detection as part of efforts to control the spread of HLB into uninfected citrus groves.
Updates to the functional anatomy of the male psyllid reproductive system
The functional anatomy of the male psyllid reproductive system was recently updated. This revision uses modern tools to elucidate the system with high resolution so that molecular researchers can have a reference to cross-correlate their findings.
Improved Diaphorina citri alimentary canal animation
This version reviews the first version of the alimentary canal and adds VolumeScope footage at a high level of resolution using modern imaging technology. The output contains 3D tomographic reconstruction of TEM ultrasections.
Public service message to report HLB to CDFA
Our colleagues in UC Davis have created this video about citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing or HLB) and how Californians can band together to prevent the spread and the end of fresh citrus for us all. Please report HLB to California Department of Food and Agriculture at 1-800-491-1899.
Featured publications
Reinterpretation of 'sperm pump' or 'sperm syringe' function with notes on other male internal reproductive organs in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Cicero, J., W. Hunter, L. Cano, S. Saha, L. Mueller, and S. Brown (2020) Arthropod Struct. Devel. 54: 100915
New anatomical evidence from the male Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) invokes controversy over the accepted function of some male reproductive organs in Psylloidea Cicero, J. and P. Stansly (2019) J. Insect Sci. 19(3): 1-7
Characterization and purification of proteins suitable for the production of antibodies against Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus Liu et al. (2017) Protein Expression and Purification
Susceptibility of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) and Its Parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) to Entomopathogenic Fungi under Laboratory Conditions Ibarra-Cortés et al. (2017) Neotropical Entomology
Does the scion or rootstock of Citrus sp. affect the feeding and biology of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)? Rodrigues Alves et al. (2017) Arthropod-Plant Interactions
Rehabilitation of Huanglongbing-affected Citrus Trees Using Severe Pruning and Enhanced Foliar Nutritional Treatments Rouse et al. (2017) HortScience
Molecular mechanisms behind the accumulation of ATP and H2O2 in citrus plants in response to ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ infection Pitino et al. (2017) Horticulture Research 
The influence of bacteria on multi-trophic interactions among plants, psyllids, and pathogen Tamborindeguy et al. (2017) Insect Science
Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Encodes a Functional Salicylic Acid (SA) Hydroxylase That Degrades SA to Suppress Plant Defenses Li et al. (2017) APS Journals
Research highlights
Diaphorina citri nymphs are resistant to morphological changes induced by "Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus" in midgut epithelial cells
Translation? The gut cells of the Asian citrus psyllid nymphs do not respond the same way to infection by the Huanglongbing bacterial pathogen as adult guts. This was unexpected.
Scientists found a surprising visual difference between how nymph and adult guts of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) respond to infection by "Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus," the causative bacterial agent of Huanglongbing (HLB), or Citrus greening disease. More
Guts of Asian citrus psyllid adults change on a molecular level when feeding on plants infected with the citrus greening bacterium
Kruse and her colleagues were interested in how CLas interacts with the gut to cross into the blood and be transmitted, and if the presence of CLas causes changes in the cells of the gut. To find out, researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute and Cornell University began with hundreds of dissected guts from psyllids feeding on either healthy or CLas-infected citrus plants. More
Annotation Updates
C-Type Lectins
Report and protein sequences
C-Type Lectins(CTLs) are calcium dependent extracellular proteins involved in recognition of glycans. A total of 10 models were found and annotated. Refer to C-type lectin gene report for further details. The Basecamp page and FTP site contain the data sets and instructions for annotation.
Relish-like Proteins
Report and protein sequences
Relish-like proteins are transcription factors and are inlvolved in Imd pathway. The Basecamp page and FTP site contain the data sets and instructions for annotation.
Galactoside-Binding Lectins
Report and protein sequences
Galactoside-Binding Lectins (GALEs) or galectins bind to beta-galactoside sugars. GALEs are implicated in innate immunity as they might be involved in microbial recognition and/or phagocytosis. The Basecamp page and FTP site contain the data sets and instructions for annotation.
Events
IOCV XXI and IRCHLB VI meeting
Abstract submissions are now open for the Joint Conference of the International Organization of Citrus Virologists XXI (IOCV XXI) and the International Research Conference on Huanglongbing VI (IRCHLB VI) to be held in Riverside, CA from March 10-15, 2019.
Third Annual CitrusGreening Solutions meeting
The Third Annual CitrusGreening Solutions meeting will be held on Dec 10-12th,2017 at University of California, Davis campus in CA.
International Research Conference on Huanglongbing
The IRCHLB V meeting was held in Orlando, FL from March 15-17th, 2017. See here for more information. The Cilia, Mueller and Shatters labs were represented at the meeting.
Links
Agencies
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