Developing novel biological delivery methods for therapeutic agents and other biomolecules to enhance production of citrus
Symbionts, grafted to crop plants (surgically attached to connect to plant tissues) for biomolecule delivery throughout the plants, produce therapeutic molecules in a manner which optimizes their commercial benefits. Symbionts have been shown to alleviate citrus greening symptoms in small citrus trees in the greenhouse, and discussions with APHIS are underway to conduct field evaluations. More
Accelerating implementation of HLB-tolerant hybrids as new commercial cultivars for fresh and processed citrus
This project includes validation of HLB-tolerance in the field, identification of genetic markers associated with tolerance to expedite varietal screening, and characterization of the fruit and juice quality of the tolerant selections. Tasting panel tests confirmed the superior orange-like flavor of U.S. SunDragon and Sugar Belle, and verified their suitability for blending with sweet-orange juice. More
Development of antimicrobial peptides from citrus to kill the CLas bacterium causing HLB
Our overall goal is to suppress CLas and maintain health in HLB-affected citrus. All organisms produce many peptides (small proteins), which serve many functions, including some unrelated to disease resistance. These citrus-derived AMPs have shown excellent activity against CLas in the lab and greenhouse. The goal of this NIFA project is to evaluate their efficacy as killing agents against CLas and therapeutics for existing infected trees to sustain commercial citrus production. In addition, we are developing trees that themselves express these AMPs to provide a form of HLB resistance. More
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