Project Number: 6618-22000-039-13
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jan 01, 2009
End Date: Dec 31, 2013

Objective:
1) Identify genetic diversity of HLB pathogen(s) in China and the United States. 2) Identify molecular and biological mechanisms of citrus HLB and control of the disease

Approach:
Identify and characterize the disease-free citrus plant (s) from historically and heavily HLB-affected orchard (over 10-15 year old citrus plants). Isolate and identify the microbial consortium from the rhizosphere and endophytes from the identified disease-free plants by culture the microbes and sequencing the microbes using molecular markers. Characterize the role of Can. L asiaticus in the HLB disease development using functional genomics. Characterize the host gene expression and regulation of the citrus plants those are resistant or tolerant to HLB by using microarray and real-time PCR. Characterize the biological and molecular mechanisms of HLB bacterial transmission by the Asian Citrus psyllid using comparative and functional genomics. Explore and apply the biocontrol potentials of the psyllids by using biocontrol microorganism and parasitic or predator insects. Screening chemicals against HLB and application of the selected chemical in the fields and monitoring the dynamics of the disease in the field.