Phytopathology (2014) 104, 15-26

Jennifer K. Parker, Sarah R. Wisotsky, Evan G. Johnson, Faraj M. Hijaz, Nabil Killiny, Mark E. Hilf and Leonardo De La Fuente (2014)
Viability of ´Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' prolonged by addition of citrus juice to culture medium
Phytopathology 104 (1), 15-26
Abstract: Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, is associated with infection by the phloem-limited bacterium `Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'. Infection with `Ca. L. asiaticus' is incurable; therefore, knowledge regarding `Ca. L. asiaticus' biology and pathogenesis is essential to develop a treatment. However, `Ca. L. asiaticus' cannot currently be successfully cultured, limiting its study. To gain insight into the conditions conducive for growth of `Ca. L. asiaticus' in vitro, `Ca. L. asiaticus' inoculum obtained from seed of fruit from infected pomelo trees (Citrus maxima 'Mato Buntan') was added to different media, and cell viability was monitored for up to 2 months using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in conjunction with ethidium monoazide. Media tested included one-third King's B (K), K with 50% juice from the infected fruit, K with 50% commercially available grapefruit juice, and 100% commercially available grapefruit juice. Results show that juice-containing media dramatically prolong viability compared with K in experiments reproduced during 2 years using different juice sources. Furthermore, biofilm formed at the air-liquid interface of juice cultures contained `Ca. L. asiaticus' cells, though next-generation sequencing indicated that other bacterial genera were predominant. Chemical characterization of the media was conducted to discuss possible factors sustaining `Ca. L. asiaticus' viability in vitro, which will contribute to future development of a culture medium for `Ca. L. asiaticus'.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nabil Killiny, Leonardo De La Fuente

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Liberibacter asiaticus