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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314670

Title: Huanglongbing increases Diplodia Stem End Rot in Citrus sinensis

Author
item Zhao, Wei
item Bai, Jinhe
item McCollum, Thomas
item Baldwin, Elizabeth - Liz

Submitted to: Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2015
Publication Date: 12/31/2014
Citation: Zhao, W., Bai, J., Mccollum, T.G., Baldwin, E.A. 2014. Huanglongbing increases Diplodia Stem End Rot in Citrus sinensis. Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society. 127:135-138.

Interpretive Summary: Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease of citrus that is causing fruit to fall off the tree, thus reducing yields. This study found that a secondary infection by a fungus is perhaps exacerbating the fruit drop and causing fruit rot after harvest in fruit from HLB-affected trees.

Technical Abstract: Huanglongbing (HLB), one of the most devastating diseases of citrus is caused by the a-Proteobacteria Candidatus Liberibacter. Diplodia natalensis Pole-Evans is a fungal pathogen which has been known to cause a postharvest stem-end rot of citrus, the pathogen infects citrus fruit under the calyx, and the fruit decay typically occurs following harvest and is exacerbated by exposure to ethylene. In this study, we report that high incidence of Diplodia infection in HLB-symptomatic fruit. The incidence of SER in 300 Hamlin and 300 Valencia orange fruit, with or without ethylene treatment was determined. Two weeks following exposure to ethylene (10 ppm, 4 days), the incidence of SER in HLB-symptomatic fruit was as high as 66.7% (Hamlin) and 58.7% (Valencia); whereas for asymptomatic fruit, less than 10% of the fruit were affected by SER. Confirmation of Diplodia in calyx abscission zone was by qPCR validation of the isolates and morphology of conidia.