Citrus huanglongbing in Venezuela: partial distribution and the relative incidence of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in the central region
| Main Authors: | Edgloris Marys, Rafael Mejías, Eduardo Rodríguez-Román, Alexander Mejías, Mailyn Mago |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article Journal |
| Bahasa: | eng |
| Terbitan: |
, 2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/4605364 |
Daftar Isi:
- Huanglongbing (HLB), is the most devastating citrus disease in the world. Two of the three known HLB-associated (Candidatus Liberibacter spp.) species are present in the Americas. Among them, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ (CLas) was detected in Venezuela in 2017, although early characteristics HLB symptoms such as yellow shoots were first noticed in 2016. In this study, plant material from suspect citrus and from knowing HLB hosts, were collected in 17 municipalities in the states of Aragua, Carabobo, Yaracuy and Portuguesa (Venezuela) between August and November 2017, to determine CLas relative incidence and host range. Samples were then evaluated by PCR, using primers targeting the β-operon locus of ribosomal proteins. Out of 113 HLB-symptomatic citrus plants, 87 (76.9 %) were positive for CLas. Citrofortunella microcarpa, Swinglea glutinosa, and Murraya paniculata known host plants of the vector, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, were also found infected in all regions analyzed. Further spread of the pathogen is expected, given the nationwide distribution and abundance of the vector. Given the HLB-infection rates found in this study, additional surveys in eastern and western states are recommended to evaluate the spread and severity of the disease which will greatly assist the design of efficient management strategies based on research data.