Citrus Huanglongbing is a pathogen-triggered immune disease that can be mitigated with antioxidants and gibberellin

Wenxiu Ma, Zhiqian Pang, Xiaoen Huang, Jin Xu, Sheo Shankar Pandey, Jinyun Li, Diann S. Achor, Fernanda N. C. Vasconcelos, Connor Hendrich, Yixiao Huang, Wenting Wang, Donghwan Lee, Daniel Stanton and Nian Wang ()
Additional contact information
Wenxiu Ma: University of Florida
Zhiqian Pang: University of Florida
Xiaoen Huang: University of Florida
Jin Xu: University of Florida
Sheo Shankar Pandey: University of Florida
Jinyun Li: University of Florida
Diann S. Achor: University of Florida
Fernanda N. C. Vasconcelos: University of Florida
Connor Hendrich: University of Florida
Yixiao Huang: University of Florida
Wenting Wang: University of Florida
Donghwan Lee: University of Florida
Daniel Stanton: University of Florida
Nian Wang: University of Florida

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease of citrus, caused by the phloem-colonizing bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Here, we present evidence that HLB is an immune-mediated disease. We show that CLas infection of Citrus sinensis stimulates systemic and chronic immune responses in phloem tissue, including callose deposition, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2, and induction of immunity-related genes. The infection also upregulates genes encoding ROS-producing NADPH oxidases, and downregulates antioxidant enzyme genes, supporting that CLas causes oxidative stress. CLas-triggered ROS production localizes in phloem-enriched bark tissue and is followed by systemic cell death of companion and sieve element cells. Inhibition of ROS levels in CLas-positive stems by NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) indicates that NADPH oxidases contribute to CLas-triggered ROS production. To investigate potential treatments, we show that addition of the growth hormone gibberellin (known to have immunoregulatory activities) upregulates genes encoding H2O2-scavenging enzymes and downregulates NADPH oxidases. Furthermore, foliar spray of HLB-affected citrus with gibberellin or antioxidants (uric acid, rutin) reduces H2O2 concentrations and cell death in phloem tissues and reduces HLB symptoms. Thus, our results indicate that HLB is an immune-mediated disease that can be mitigated with antioxidants and gibberellin.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28189-9

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