Huanglongbing (HLB) is a major threat for the citrus industry. This bacterial disease has strong socioeconomic consequences in almost every basin of production in the world. The bacterium associated to the disease is of the genus Candidatus Liberibacter, which parasitizes the phloem and leads to the plugging of the pores of the vessels. It is transmitted by biting and sucking insects of the psyllid family, which, when feeding on citrus shoot flushes, can become infected and transmit the bacteria to other trees. While all the species of citrus fruit that are consumed (oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, lemons, etc.) are susceptible to the disease, some genotypes present better traits of tolerance to the disease. Moreover, within the Aurantioideae, some genotypes have strict resistance characteristics.
Over the last few decades, major efforts have been made to identify genotypes that are more tolerant or even resistant to the disease. However, very little significant progress has been made to date in characterizing the physiological and molecular factors behind this improved tolerance/resistance. Identifying the genes involved in resistance will be an extremely important step. The same applies to the physiological mechanisms of tolerance/resistance triggered at whole tree level in addition to an accurate disease damage evaluation. Taken together, this scientific information is expected to pave the way for the implementation of molecular tools to confer resistance on the vector or the tree.
Finally, further characterization of host/pathogen/vector interactions will be needed to gain a better understanding of the disease's transmission mechanisms, and, therefore, allow for setting new strategies of disease management.
This Research Topic focuses on exploring the molecular and physiological mechanism underlining tolerance or resistance traits in citrus regarding HLB as well as host-pathogen-vector interaction. In order to explore these features, we are interested in submissions that cover, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- Genetics and breeding to identify tolerance/resistance genes to HLB (bacterium / vector)
- Physiological approaches to decipher resistance / tolerance mechanisms in citrus to HLB (bacterium / vector)
- Whole plant response to HLB (bacterium / vector) including impact at fruit level
- Molecular tools to confer HLB resistance in citrus / vector
- Host-pathogen-vector interaction and transmission mechanism
- New methods in HLB disease diagnosis
Article types including original research, reviews, mini-reviews, commentary, protocols, opinions, and perspectives are all welcome.
Disclaimer: We acknowledge that Drs. Morillon and Hufnagel receive funding from Cointreau, Campari and Suntory for scientific research activities. But, we hereby state publicly that Cointreau, Campari and Suntory has had no editorial input in articles included in this Research Topic, thus ensuring that all aspects of this Research Topic are evaluated objectively, and unbiased by any specific policy or opinion of Cointreau, Campari and Suntory. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords:
citrus greening disease, huanglongbing, candidatus liberibacter, plant disease
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Huanglongbing (HLB) is a major threat for the citrus industry. This bacterial disease has strong socioeconomic consequences in almost every basin of production in the world. The bacterium associated to the disease is of the genus Candidatus Liberibacter, which parasitizes the phloem and leads to the plugging of the pores of the vessels. It is transmitted by biting and sucking insects of the psyllid family, which, when feeding on citrus shoot flushes, can become infected and transmit the bacteria to other trees. While all the species of citrus fruit that are consumed (oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, lemons, etc.) are susceptible to the disease, some genotypes present better traits of tolerance to the disease. Moreover, within the Aurantioideae, some genotypes have strict resistance characteristics.
Over the last few decades, major efforts have been made to identify genotypes that are more tolerant or even resistant to the disease. However, very little significant progress has been made to date in characterizing the physiological and molecular factors behind this improved tolerance/resistance. Identifying the genes involved in resistance will be an extremely important step. The same applies to the physiological mechanisms of tolerance/resistance triggered at whole tree level in addition to an accurate disease damage evaluation. Taken together, this scientific information is expected to pave the way for the implementation of molecular tools to confer resistance on the vector or the tree.
Finally, further characterization of host/pathogen/vector interactions will be needed to gain a better understanding of the disease's transmission mechanisms, and, therefore, allow for setting new strategies of disease management.
This Research Topic focuses on exploring the molecular and physiological mechanism underlining tolerance or resistance traits in citrus regarding HLB as well as host-pathogen-vector interaction. In order to explore these features, we are interested in submissions that cover, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- Genetics and breeding to identify tolerance/resistance genes to HLB (bacterium / vector)
- Physiological approaches to decipher resistance / tolerance mechanisms in citrus to HLB (bacterium / vector)
- Whole plant response to HLB (bacterium / vector) including impact at fruit level
- Molecular tools to confer HLB resistance in citrus / vector
- Host-pathogen-vector interaction and transmission mechanism
- New methods in HLB disease diagnosis
Article types including original research, reviews, mini-reviews, commentary, protocols, opinions, and perspectives are all welcome.
Disclaimer: We acknowledge that Drs. Morillon and Hufnagel receive funding from Cointreau, Campari and Suntory for scientific research activities. But, we hereby state publicly that Cointreau, Campari and Suntory has had no editorial input in articles included in this Research Topic, thus ensuring that all aspects of this Research Topic are evaluated objectively, and unbiased by any specific policy or opinion of Cointreau, Campari and Suntory. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords:
citrus greening disease, huanglongbing, candidatus liberibacter, plant disease
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.