ARS | Publication request: SSR-based Genetic Analysis of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” isolates from Multiple Continents.

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 10, 2010
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Citation: Glynn, J.M., Lin, H., Chen, C., Duan, Y., Zhou, L. 2010. SSR-based Genetic Analysis of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” isolates from Multiple Continents.. Phytopathology. 100:S41.

Technical Abstract: Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most devastating citrus diseases that threaten citrus production worldwide. The causal agents are believed to be Candidatus Liberibacter spp. Although substantial efforts have been made toward detection of the presumed pathogens, information regarding to the pathogen’s genetic variation, population structure, and epidemiological relationships is limited— such data might provide useful insights into the evolutionary adaptations and host selection mechanisms utilized by this group of bacteria. The objective of this study is to identify the phylogenetic relationship between Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) strains isolated from Florida, Brazil, India, and China. We used a panel of at least 8 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to infer phylogenetic relationships amongst HLB-associated Las strains from these four geographically- and ecologically-diverse regions. Our results indicate that Las strains from Florida share features with strains from three other regions of the world and provide insights into regions of the Las genome that may be associated with altered levels of pathogenicity.