Genomic Analysis for Citrus Disease Detection

Abstract

Citrus is an important group of globally produced fruit crops, holding great economic, cultural, and health value. Belonging to the Rutacaeae family, the genus Citrus includes some of the most iconic and widely appreciated variants of fruits such as the orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and tangerine. The spread of various diseases threatens the worldwide production of citrus fruit crops. Diseases such as Asiatic citrus canker, citrus tristeza virus, citrus leprosis, and especially citrus greening disease (also known as Huanglongbing) cause various symptoms harmful to plant growth and fruit production, inflicting tremendous economic damages. Advancements in genetic analysis technologies have offered new tools to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlining these diseases. In this review, we briefly overview the utility of genetic analysis in detection and monitoring of citrus disease-causing pathogens. We then focus our discussion on one of the most damaging citrus diseases, citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing). Genomic and gene expression analysis of citrus plants and their disease-causing microbes, along with tissue and cellular structural imaging, has demonstrated the potential allowing early pathogen detection and disease monitoring. These will eventually help to develop effective treatments to protect and promote citrus crop production.