Evaluation of Resistance to Asiatic Citrus Canker among Selections of Pêra Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)

Abstract

Asiatic citrus canker (ACC, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri) is a destructive disease of citrus in Brazil and in several other citrus-producing countries. ACC management is problematic, and bactericides such as copper can be reasonably efficacious but do not completely control the disease. Furthermore, injury by citrus leaf miner (CLM) can exacerbate severity of ACC. Host resistance is the most desirable solution for management of ACC; however, evaluations of germplasm indicate that resistance is limited in many popular species and cultivars that are grown commercially. Limited evaluations have been made of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) selections. We evaluated resistance of 25 Pêra sweet orange selections to X. citri subsp. citri by wound inoculation and measuring lesion diameter under greenhouse conditions (wound inoculation indicates mesophyll resistance which will be valuable in areas where CLM exists). ACC severity was assessed on the same 25 selections at three locations in the field in Brazil, relying on natural inoculum and conditions to cause disease. In the greenhouse experiments, the selections EEL, Bianchi/CC, Ipiguá, Olimpia, IAC 2000/1, and Ovale Siracusa consistently had the smallest diameter lesions, indicating greatest resistance, although differences in lesion diameter were small. Results from the field experiments were less conclusive, although EEL and Ovale Siracusa were consistently numerically least affected by ACC. These results indicate selections of sweet orange that might be preferable to consider in canker-prone areas in Brazil and elsewhere.