Articles
An overview and the new aspects of citrus Huanglongbing disease in Iran
Article number
1448_62
Pages
489 – 496
Language
English
Abstract
Huanglongbing (HLB, greening) caused by Candidatus Liberibacter spp. is the most destructive disease of citrus in the world.
In Iran, HLB was first reported from Hormozgan and Sistan va Baluchestan provinces in 2009. Less than a decade after the first report, HLB was reported from all the citrus-producing provinces of southern Iran.
The disease is less severe in the plain tropical regions due to a natural thermotropy phenomenon, compared to the subtropical foothill areas.
It means that due to high temperatures, HLB will not cause considerable damage in the plain tropical areas of the country.
Root rot is a common symptom in all the HLB-infected trees.
The main disease symptoms in areas with a high relative humidity (RH) are leaf mottling, color inversion of the fruit, and slow decline; however, in areas with a low RH, the infected trees show a sudden decline, mostly without showing typical HLB symptoms in the canopy.
During the past five years, the rate of disease progression decreased considerably because of good horticultural practices (from nursery to orchard level) and significant climate changes leading to a decrease in the population of the insect vector.
Although HLB has not yet been reported in the citrus-producing provinces in northern Iran, it can potentially be a serious threat for this region.
Nowadays, we are using a modified nested-PCR for reliable and robust molecular detection of the HLB-associated Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Using template DNA extracted from the root tissue, we amplify CLas initially using a newly designed primer set, ASF1/ASR1; in the subsequent round of PCR, we utilize the A2/J5 primer pair.
We regularly test the nursery plants and citrus trees to monitor and manage HLB.
In Iran, HLB was first reported from Hormozgan and Sistan va Baluchestan provinces in 2009. Less than a decade after the first report, HLB was reported from all the citrus-producing provinces of southern Iran.
The disease is less severe in the plain tropical regions due to a natural thermotropy phenomenon, compared to the subtropical foothill areas.
It means that due to high temperatures, HLB will not cause considerable damage in the plain tropical areas of the country.
Root rot is a common symptom in all the HLB-infected trees.
The main disease symptoms in areas with a high relative humidity (RH) are leaf mottling, color inversion of the fruit, and slow decline; however, in areas with a low RH, the infected trees show a sudden decline, mostly without showing typical HLB symptoms in the canopy.
During the past five years, the rate of disease progression decreased considerably because of good horticultural practices (from nursery to orchard level) and significant climate changes leading to a decrease in the population of the insect vector.
Although HLB has not yet been reported in the citrus-producing provinces in northern Iran, it can potentially be a serious threat for this region.
Nowadays, we are using a modified nested-PCR for reliable and robust molecular detection of the HLB-associated Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Using template DNA extracted from the root tissue, we amplify CLas initially using a newly designed primer set, ASF1/ASR1; in the subsequent round of PCR, we utilize the A2/J5 primer pair.
We regularly test the nursery plants and citrus trees to monitor and manage HLB.
Publication
Authors
M. Azadvar, M.R. Safarnejad, M.R. Salari, F. Mangeli
Keywords
Asian citrus psylid, Candidatus Liberibacter, citriculture, greening
Groups involved
Online Articles (103)