Phloem and xylem responses are both implicated in HLB tolerance of Sugar Belle

Abstract

While HLB is a devastating citrus disease, improved tolerant cultivars, like Sugar Belle (SB) mandarin, have been identified. To understand the responses that HLB-affected SB undergoes, we compared 14CO2 fixation, carbohydrate export, phloem callose accumulation, relative expression of plant defense activators, and anatomical changes between healthy and infected SB trees versus susceptible Pineapple (PA) sweet orange. Eight to 10-weeks-old leaves of infected SB showed a 2.5-fold increase in 14CO2 fixation and a 13% decrease in 14C-carbohydrate export whereas HLB-affected PA presented a decrease of 33% and 50%, respectively. Mean distance of a callose deposit to its closest neighbor was 36% smaller in infected SB versus healthy while in HLB-affected PA it was 33% higher. Expression of papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) was upregulated in SB but downregulated in PA. Infected SB showed minor alterations in the number of xylem vessels, 16% larger xylem vessel’s lumen area, and a 14% increase in the proportional area of the xylem. In contrast, PA showed a 2.4-fold increase in xylem vessel’s number and a 2% increase in the proportional xylem area. Three complementary mechanisms of tolerance in SB are hypothesized: i) increased carbohydrate availability induced by greater CO2 fixation, mild effect in carbohydrate export, and local accumulation of callose in the phloem, ii) activation of defense response via upregulation of PLCPs, and iii) increased investment in xylem structure. Thus, phloem and xylem modifications seem to be involved in SB tolerance.