Publications - Faculty - Recently Submitted Faculty Publications 2008
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Wang - Phytopathology
In Planta Distribution of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus as Revealed by PCR and Real-Time PCR. Phytopathology
Satyanarayana, T., Gowda, S., Robertson, C. J., Dawson, W. O., and Wang, N.
Abstract. Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus worldwide, and is caused by a phloem limited fastidious prokaryotic α-proteobacterium that is yet to be cultured. In this study, a combination of traditional PCR and real-time PCR targeting the putative DNA polymerase and 16S rDNA sequence of Las, respectively, were used to examine the distribution and movement of the greening pathogen in the infected citrus tree. We found that Las is unevenly distributed in bark tissue, leaf midrib, roots, and different floral and fruit parts, except in endosperm and embryo, of infected citrus trees. A relatively high concentration of Las was observed in fruit peduncles and bark tissue. Our data from greenhouse infected plants also indicate that Las is systemically transmitted from source to sink organs through the phloem. Understanding the distribution and movement of the HLB bacterium inside an individual citrus tree is critical for discerning its virulence mechanism and to develop management strategies for HLB.
