Devious Phloem Intruder Candidatus Liberibacter Species Causing Huanglongbing: History, Symptoms, Mechanism, and Current Strategies

Abstract

Huanglongbing (HLB) or greening is a devastating phloem-intruding bacterial disease that generates various symptoms in leaves and fruits, threatening the global citrus industry. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, Candidatus Liberibacter africanus, and Candidatus Liberibacter americanus are the causative agents of HLB in citrus-producing regions around many countries, and these proteobacteria are being vectorized by Diaphorina citri and Triozaerytreae. The lack of HLB-resistant citrus cultivars, the rapid spread of disease, and the fastidious nature of HLB-proteobacteria have made it difficult to mitigate HLB in the citrus field. There are numerous reports on the control of HLB disease using thermotherapy, chemotherapy, plant defense activators, brassinosteroids, and nanoemulsions. However, there is no evidence of such applicability of the methods mentioned above to complete the elimination or suppression of the pathogen to control HLB disease. We aim to provide an overall picture of HLB disease, its distribution, causal organism, pathogenic mechanism, and current and future strategies for combat against citrus Huanglongbing disease. This review may prompt the researchers toward an integrated and environmentally sustainable methodology for the mitigation/elimination of HLB pathogens.