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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #138791

Title: XANTHOMONAS AXONOPODIS PV. CITRI: FACTORS AFFECTING SUCCESSFUL ERADICATION OF CITRUS CANKER

Author
item GRAHAM, JAMES - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item Gottwald, Timothy
item CUBERO, JAIME - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item ACHOR, DIANN - UNIV OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Molecular Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2004
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Graham, J.H., Gottwald, T.R., Cubero, J., Achor, D. 2004. Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri: factors affecting successful eradication of citrus canker. Molecular Plant Pathology. 5: 1-15

Interpretive Summary: The publication represents a review of citrus canker and describes the taxonomy, microbiological properties, host range, disease symptoms, epidemiology of the disease in Florida and in other areas of the world where it has been studied, the crop losses that have been experienced due to disease and the distribution of the disease worldwide and in Florida. It also describes molecular methods that are helpful for detection and discrimination/separation of genotypes and strains of citrus canker. It also describes the various methods that are used for control and eradication of the disease in various areas around the world and protocol that are used to prevent introduction into new areas.

Technical Abstract: Taxonomic status: Bacteria, Proteobacteria, gamma subdivision, Xanthomodales, Xanthomonas group, axonopodis DNA homology group, X. axonopodis pv. citri (Hasse) Vauterin et al. Microbiological properties: Gram negative, slender, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile by a single polar flagellum, produces slow growing, non-mucoid colonies in culture, ecologically obligate plant parasite. Host range: Causal agent of Asiatic citrus canker on most Citrus spp. and close relatives of Citrus in the family Rutaceae. Disease symptoms: Distinctively raised, necrotic lesions on fruits, stems and leaves.Epidemiology: Bacteria exude from lesions during wet weather and are disseminated by splash dispersal at short range, windblown rain at medium to long range and human assisted movement at all ranges .Crop loss: Severe infections cause defoliation, blemished fruit, premature fruit drop, dieback of twigs and general debilitation of the tree. Distribution: Citrus canker is not present in all subtropical to tropical regions of citriculture in the world, so considerable regulatory efforts are expended to prevent the introduction and spread of X. axonopodis pv. citri into areas in the Americas, Australia and elsewhere, with climates conducive to the disease. Importance: Limited strategies exist for suppression of citrus canker on more susceptible cultivars. Blemished fruit are unmarketable and exposed fruit are restricted in market access. The economic impact of loss of markets is much greater than that from yield and quality reductions of the crop.