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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #348542

Research Project: Characterization and Management of Citrus Pathogens Transmitted by Phloem-Feeding Insect Vectors

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Diversity of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” strains in California

Author
item DAI, Z - South China Agricultural University
item WU, F - South China Agricultural University
item ZHENG, Z - South China Agricultural University
item Yokomi, Raymond - Ray
item KUMAGAI, L - California Department Of Food And Agriculture
item CAI, W - South China Agricultural University
item RASCOE, J - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Polek, Marylou
item DENG, X - South China Agricultural University
item Chen, Jianchi

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2018
Publication Date: 7/28/2018
Citation: Dai, Z., Wu, F., Zheng, Z., Yokomi, R.K., Kumagai, L., Cai, W., Rascoe, J., Polek, M., Deng, X., Chen, J. 2018. Diversity of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” strains in California. Phytopathology. 108:S1.93. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-108-10-S1.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/phyto-108-10-s1.1

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is a highly destructive disease and associated with a non-culturable bacterium, “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas). Characterization of CLas strains is critical for HLB management. HLB was found in Florida in 2005 and is now endemic there. In California, CLas was first detected in Los Angeles County in 2012. Since then, the bacterium has been detected in multiple urban locations in southern California. Little is known about the diversity and biology of these CLas strains. In this study, nine CLas strains from six southern California cities were analyzed targeting chromosomal loci and prophage regions based on next generation sequencing (Illumina MiSeq and HiSeq). No variation was detected in 16S rRNA and nrdB gene sequences. All California CLas strains were of Asiatic origin, rather than Florida, based on terL gene grouping. Single Type 1 prophages were found in CLas strains from Anaheim, Cerritos, San Gabriel, and Riverside; Single Type 2 prophage was found in a Hacienda Heights strain; Type 1 and 3 prophages were found in a Cerritos strain, and Type 1 and 2 prophages were found in a La Habra strain. All prophages harbored Miniature Inverted-Repeat Transposable Elements (MITEs) with Type B MITEs associated to Type 1 and Type 3 prophages and Type A MITEs associated with Type 2 prophages. This information provides data useful to track the origin and pathway of the CLas strains and is critical for the management of the disease.