About this Research Topic
Multiple pathogenic species of Candidatus Liberibacter have been identified from plant hosts worldwide. Among these species, Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), Ca. Liberibacter africanus (CLaf), Ca. Liberibacter americanus (CLam) are the putative causal agents of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB, a. k. a. citrus greening) which is a highly destructive disease in global citrus production. Additionally, Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso) is an emerging pathogen causing Zebra chip disease (ZC) of potatoes and diseases on many other solanaceous hosts.
Studies on biology and control of Ca. Liberibacter species are facing big challenge due to their inability to be cultured, phloem-limited nature, and their intracellular life in plant hosts. Although the genomic information of the Ca. Liberibacter species have been accumulated rapidly and some important virulence traits have been dissected, how the three-way plant-insect-pathogen interactions occur still remains unclear so far.
Garnering genomic and genetic information related to Ca. Liberibacter species from diverse populations can provide insights into the genome biology and evolution of Ca. Liberibacter spp. This also enables identification of target genes that underlie interactions of plant and insect-vector hosts with the phloem-colonizing Ca. Liberibacter species. Ultimately, the information is critical for generation and development of resistant plant cultivars via conventional breeding, biotechnology and/or genome editing strategies.
This Research Topic focuses on studies (including e.g. original research, perspectives, minireviews, commentaries and opinion papers) that investigate and discuss:
1) Comparative and functional genomics of Ca. Liberibacter spp.
2) Comparative genomics, transcriptome, proteomics and/or metabolomics of plant and insect-vector hosts in response to Ca. Liberibacter spp. infection.
3) The characterization of effectors or other virulence factors and their interactions with plant and insect-vector hosts.
4) Genetic and/or genome-editing strategies to combat Ca. Liberibacter spp.
Studies on biology and control of Ca. Liberibacter species are facing big challenge due to their inability to be cultured, phloem-limited nature, and their intracellular life in plant hosts. Although the genomic information of the Ca. Liberibacter species have been accumulated rapidly and some important virulence traits have been dissected, how the three-way plant-insect-pathogen interactions occur still remains unclear so far.
Garnering genomic and genetic information related to Ca. Liberibacter species from diverse populations can provide insights into the genome biology and evolution of Ca. Liberibacter spp. This also enables identification of target genes that underlie interactions of plant and insect-vector hosts with the phloem-colonizing Ca. Liberibacter species. Ultimately, the information is critical for generation and development of resistant plant cultivars via conventional breeding, biotechnology and/or genome editing strategies.
This Research Topic focuses on studies (including e.g. original research, perspectives, minireviews, commentaries and opinion papers) that investigate and discuss:
1) Comparative and functional genomics of Ca. Liberibacter spp.
2) Comparative genomics, transcriptome, proteomics and/or metabolomics of plant and insect-vector hosts in response to Ca. Liberibacter spp. infection.
3) The characterization of effectors or other virulence factors and their interactions with plant and insect-vector hosts.
4) Genetic and/or genome-editing strategies to combat Ca. Liberibacter spp.
Keywords: citrus Huanglongbing, Zebra chip, Candidatus Liberibacter spp., Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum Psyllids, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus
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