Article Type : Tips and Techniques
Authors : Rehman F, Kalsoom M and Adnan M
Citrus is one of the
most important fruit crop growing in hundreds of countries at commercial level
in the world. Pakistan is one of the largest citrus producing countries and it
is ranked at 13th in the production of citrus fruit and occupies a pride
position in the economy of the country. Citrus is affected by many of
bacterial, fungal and viral diseases which which causes the severe loss to the citrus
industry. Citrus greening is one of the most devastating disease. Citrus
greening is also called Huanglongbing (HLB) on the bases of peculiar yellow
shoot symptom of the disease. Huanglongbing was first report in China in late 19
century.
Candidatus liberibacter
1. Asian form; Candidatus liberibacter
asiaticus
2. African form; Candidatus liberibacter africanus
3. American form; Candidatus liberibacter
americanus
Common names
Citrus greening, Yellow shoot, Yellow dragon
Symptoms
Leaf: Blotchy
mottling is the most characteristic symptom of Huanglongbing. This mottling
symptoms are distinct from Zn deficiency. These blotchy mottle are usually
visible on both sides of the leaf. Dark green areas are reduced to small
circular dark green dots that contrast with yellow or light green background.
Other then these blotchy mottle, infected leaves also become thicker and
leathery. They also have raised corky veins.
Fruit: The
fruit remains small and becomes lopsided. When fruit is cut, it has a curved
axis. Seed abortion occurs in infected fruits. Fruit is ripen backwards but the
stylar end remains green as the fruit original colors. The symptomatic fruit
results with reduced fruit size, premature fruit drop, low soluble acids
content in the juice and a bitter taste of the juice.
Whole Plant: The irregular presence of symptoms on the tree means the irregular distribution of the pathogen in the plant. The severely infected plant have very thin top third of the canopy. As a result, the tree can go into a complete decline, collapse and may die. The infected trees with a prolonged infection become stunted (Figures 1-3).
Figure 1: Color inversion symptoms on fruit and Lopsided fruit symptoms
.
Figure 2: Lopsided fruit with seed abortion symptoms And One-third part of tree showing the yellowing symptoms of HLB.
Figure 3:
Asymmetrical mottling pattern on leaves and Corky veins symptoms on leaves.
Host range
Citrus Greening can infect all cultivars and hybrids of citrus. The
Genera of Rutaceae family that can be infected by this disease are
Balsamocitrus, Clausena (Wampi), Microcitrus, Murraya (orange-jessamine),
Severinia (Chinese box-orange), Toddalia, Atalantia, Calodendrum, Fortunella
(Kumquat), Poncirus (trifoliate-orange), Swinglea and Triphasia (trifoliate
limeberry).
Disease cycle
Citrus greening is caused by a phloem limited bacteria. In citrus, there
are three strains of concerned Bacteria i.e. Asian, African and American forms.
The Asian form of bacterial infection shows the symptoms in both warm and cool
conditions. The African form of bacterial infection shows symptoms in cool
conditions with temperature of 20-250 °C. The American form of bacterial
infection is heat sensitive and does not grow above night / day temperature of
24/32 °C.
·
Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus is present in Asia, South
America, Middle East, Central America and Southeast United States.
·
Candidatus liberibacter africanus is present in Africa and Middle
East.
·
Candidatus liberibacter americanus is found only in Brazil.
Citrus crop is cultivated almost in all over the world and almost
all the citrus orchards are adversely affected by citrus greening. Depending
upon the threat level of pathogen and insect vector epidemiology, different
management strategies can be used.
1. Quarantine measures can be implemented to
keep the disease away from non infected places.
2. It is essential to control the population
of insect in order to stop the disease spread.
3. Thermal therapy treatment by continuous
heat exposure to 40°C to 42°C for a minimum of 48 hours can be used to suppress
or eliminate disease from plants
4. Antibiotics like ampicillin,
carbenicillin, cephalexin etc. are highly effective to suppress Candidatus
liberibacter asiaticus population in infected trees
5. Foliar applications of micronutrients can
be used to lessen effects of induced mineral deficiencies
6. Resistance varities should be used.