Improving bactericide therapy for young tree protection and inoculum reduction

Improving bactericide therapy for young tree protection and inoculum reduction

Report Date: 09/15/2020
Project: 18-051C   Year: 2020
Category: Horticultural & Management
Author: Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

Objective 1: Investigate the efficacy of bactericides treatments for preventing new infections for young citrus trees protection. Hypothesis: Bactericidal treatment will protect young trees from CLas colonization.Initial leaf samples were collected before treatments to evaluate CLas titers in the uninfected trees.  Antibiotic treatments were applied from May 2019 through September of 2020. From early June through September, CLas titer was monitored in leaf tissue in response to antibiotic treatments using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. In this report, the results of the CLas-infection rate in citrus leaves and ACP from May 2019 through June 2020 are described. Currently, citrus leaves tissue samples from July through September 2020are being processed to analyze the CLas-infection rate. Results: CLas titers were highest during the past quarter compared to previous quarters across all treatments. The average tree CT value prior to the beginning og the study was 37.5-39.5. Trees are considered CLas-infected (positives) when CT values are below 35. Trees receiving monthly or quarterly applications of Firewall/Fireline tested CLas-positive beginning January 2020 and December 2019, respectively. Trees covered by Tree Defender bags or treated with insecticide only tested CLas-positive beginning December 2019 and February 2020, respectively.During May-June 2020, CLas values reached the higest level across all treatments since the study was initiated. CLas titers were lowest in the insecticide only treatment during this period, followed by monthly applications of Firewall/Fireline rotation. Trees receiving quarterly applications of Firewall/Fireline had the second highest titer of CLas, compared to other treatments. The highest titers of CLas during May-June 2020 were observed in trees covered with Tree Defender bags.     Objective 2. Determine the effect of bactericides application frequency on Las infection of citrus. Hypothesis: Bactericidal treatment will reduce CLas infection in mature trees. Antibiotic treatments were applied from May 2019 through September of 2020. From early May through June, CLas titer was monitored in leaf tissue and Asian citrus psyllid adults in response to antibiotic treatments. Currently, citrus leaf samples from July through September are being processed to analyze the CLas-infection rate. Results: The average CT value of citrus trees at the onset of the study was 28. From May 2019-June 2020, trees receiving monthly applications of Firewall/Fireline had the lowest CT values, as compared with trees receiving quarterly antibiotic applications or insecticide only, with the exception of January 2020 when mean CLas titers across all treatments were not significantly different.       


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