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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 #220186
Title: Characterization of Recently Introduced HLB and CTV Isolates

Author
item Hilf, Mark
item GARNSEY, S. M. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item ROBERTSON, C. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item GOWDA, S. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item SATYANARAYANA, T. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item IREY, M. S. - U.S. SUGAR CORP.
item SIEBURTH, P. - DEPT. OF PLANT INDUSTRY
item DAWSON, W. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2007
Publication Date: 12/20/2007
Citation: Hilf, M.E., Garnsey, S., Robertson, C., Gowda, S., Satyanarayana, T., Irey, M., Sieburth, P., Dawson, W. 2007. Characterization of Recently Introduced HLB and CTV Isolates. Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society. 120:138-141.

Interpretive Summary: This paper describes biological and molecular analysis of isolates of huanglungbing (HLB), a bacterial disease and citrus tristeza virus (CTV) recently discovered in Florida. The HLB isolates were discovered in Florida in 2005 and are now propagated in plants in secured greenhouses. Evaluation of symptoms and distribution of the HLB bacterium in different citrus varieties is underway. The new CTV discovered in 2002 causes more severe symptoms on citrus than CTV commonly found in Florida. It is also genetically distinct from the CTV currently found in Florida. HLB and this new strain of CTV have the ability to impact production in Florida citrus.

Technical Abstract: Severe stem-pitting isolates of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were found in Florida citrus 5 years ago, followed by the discovery 2 years later of the citrus greening disease (huanglongbing: HLB) caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. The new CTV isolates are members of the VT group, which contains isolates more severe than the mild and decline isolates now common in Florida. These new isolates are apparently moving rapidly into commercial citrus. Individual VT isolates from the same fi eld vary considerably in severity, suggesting genetic variability in the virus population. Grapefruit seedlings inoculated with some of the VT isolates have shown severe reactions in the greenhouse, but effects on larger trees remain unknown. Additionally, severe CTV-like symptoms were observed in some of the trees initially discovered with HLB infections, suggesting that additional severe isolates of CTV may have been co-imported with the citrus greening pathogen. The similarity of these CTV isolates is under investigation. The establishment of greening in Florida poses a major threat to future citrus production, so development of effective management strategies is urgently needed. Using information and techniques developed for studying CTV, we are examining the movement and distribution of Liberibacter to optimize sampling times and patterns for better detection, especially in trees without defi nite visual symptoms. We also are examining the relationship between symptom expression and Liberibacter titers in infected trees.