1- The physical construction/renovation of the growth room did not start yet. A draft of the final layout of the lamps and benches was presented. Several scenarios about air filtration and distribution were discussed as well as safety, security and the irrigation system. Regarding irrigation, it seems like there are concerns about the amount of run-off water leaving the growth room. A holding tank was proposed as a way to contain the water that is coming out of the facility, however the existence of a retention pond south of the building might be the best solution. No decision has been reached at this point regarding the disposal of the water. We make clear to everyone that we need hose bibs in the growth room and there will approximately 2000 gallons/week of run off water coming from the growth room, this is inclusive of watering the plants and maintaining cleanliness. 2 – The first material to establish mother plants from Hamlin 1-4-1 was released from Dr. Peggy Sieburth lab. The clean shoot tips are approximately 4 weeks old and they will need to be grafted in approximately 4 more weeks on rootstocks that are currently growing inside the lab. These rootstocks are being maintained inside the lab for 6 months under laboratory conditions and they needed to be transferred to bigger pots 2 months ago. Under these conditions the grafting will be delay until the growth room is available. Since these rootstocks are already suffering, a new batch was started as a backup. We hope that the shoot tips can hold a few months more until the grafting can be performed. We will need to transfer them several times which in normal conditions is not required. Maintaining shoot tips for a long time on in vitro conditions might also induce juvenility, which we will want to avoid. 3 – Construction of the growth room will start on October 25th according to information provided by the CREC maintenance supervisor. 4 – A grower was selected and he will be at CREC in a few weeks.
The objective of this project is to screen citrus germplasm for resistance to the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Although citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a century-old disease and the control of ACP is the key factor for HLB management, there is little information regarding citrus host resistance to ACP. Our preliminary results indicate there is ACP resistance in citrus germplasm. Historically, most (if not all) citrus resistance to HLB has been evaluated using graft inoculations, which sometimes resulted in plants becoming infected that appeared to have resistance in the field. What is needed is research to find varieties with resistance to the psyllid. Greenhouse and field evaluations of the USDA germplasm collection will be conducted. There already exists in China individual citrus plants that are thought to be HLB-resistant,but likely some of these are ACP resistant. The identification of a psyllid-resistant variety (or individual mutant) could revolutionize HLB management strategies. If we can identify ACP resistant germplasm, we can identify resistance genes for use in traditional and molecular breeding. Our intentions are to screen hundreds of sources of USDA and Chinese germplasm for resistance to ACP and to field test these to see if resistance to the psyllid negates HLB or greatly facilitates control. We expect to identify psyllid resistant citrus genotypes (or individual mutants from field-resistant collections) and/or citrus relatives within the Rutaceae that have psyllid resistance. We expect to determine traits that confer resistance and to identify traits that might be transferred to citrus varieties currently grown in order to make them resistant to the psyllid and thus less prone to contracting HLB. The ultimate return from this project would be an effective management strategy to control ACP and HLB that is less costly and friendlier to the environment and non-target organisms than the repetitive use of broad spectrum insecticides. A post doc was found and hired to conduct this research. A trip was made to China to firm up research plans with the Dr. Liu Bo and the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Seeds representing the entire citrus/citrus relative collection at USDA-ARS-NCGR were obtained and have been planted in Ft Pierce. At the time this report was prepared, the Chinese government had not yet approved importation of germplasm from USA. A field planting of 87 citrus genotypes and relatives, primarily of the orange subfamily Aurantioideae, in Ft Pierce was screened for psyllid infestations during June, July, and August. There were significant differences in susceptibility of the genotypes as measured by the categorical rating of adults (F = 3.97, df = 86, P = 0.0001), nymphs (F = 7.56, df = 86, P = 0.0001) and eggs (F = 2.17, df = 86, P = 0.0001). Many of the genotypes were highly susceptible to infestations by the psyllid, but Glycosmis pentaphylla, Clausena harmandiana, and two genotypes of Poncirus trifoliata were completely avoided by the psyllid. The genera Glycosmis and Clausena are not members of the “true citrus fruit trees” and are not sexually compatible with Citrus however these groups could still serve as a source of psyllid resistance genes. However, Poncirus trifoliata, the trifoliata orange, readily forms hybrids with Citrus spp., is the dominant root stock in China and since 1892 has been used in Florida either alone or in hybrid form. This cold hardy genotype is highly resistant to citrus tristeza virus, Phytophthora-induced diseases, and citrus nematode. In recent psyllid no-choice oviposition studies using six different genotypes of Poncirus trifoliata, with Citrus aurantium and C. macrophylla as susceptible controls, a greatly reduced number of eggs were laid on the Poncirus trifoliata selections when compared with the controls.
1- The first objective of the second year was to build a plant growth room at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Florida (CREC). The physical construction/renovation of the growth room has not been started so far. The construction is expected to start at the end of September. The rootstocks that are currently growing in the lab are big and we will need to start growing a new batch until the growth room is ready. They cannot be transferred to another greenhouse because it will defeat the purpose of growing under controlled conditions. 2- Training of the manager Dr. Zapata has been completed at the IVIA under the supervision of Dr. Pena. 3- Initial material to establish the mother plants are being produced at the Department of Agriculture with Dr. Peggy Sieburth. She will start releasing the in vitro plants in September. Ideally these plants should be used immediately for grafting on the rootstocks; plants will be kept in vitro until the growth room is ready. The plants cannot be kept for more than 4-5 months on in vitro conditions. 4- A search for a full growth room technician started. The final hiring process will be completed once the growth room construction starts. We expect this technician to go for 2 weeks of training in Spain. At this moment, construction/renovation of the growth room is a major bottleneck for the progress of the project. Clean materials for the most important scion varieties of Florida have been obtained with the help of Dr. Peggy Siebuth through shoot-tip grafting. Clean rootstocks (stored at the lab at this moment-the only clean area we count with) are already 6-month-old and will be ready to be grafted with the clean scions for next October. However, we do not know yet when the growth room will be finalized. Only after this facility is fully operative, we will be able to perform the grafts with the clean materials. If the construction of the growth room is delayed further (more than 3 months), we have the risk of losing both the scions and the rootstocks, and consequently lose months of work (that could not be repeated until next year due to Dr. Sieburth’s agenda) and a lot of money. These delays (no growth room after 1.5 years of project) are making impossible to fulfil our objective for the end of this 3-year project. This situation is out of my understanding- Leandro Pe’a
Continued efforts to improve transformation efficiency: ‘ The effect of antioxidants lipoic acid, glycine betaine and glutathione are being evaluated for increased transformation efficiency. Some treatments are showing a significant increase in transformation efficiency across a range of citrus genotypes.’ We have successfully developed an efficient transformation system for embryogenic citrus callus, (publication in Plant Cell Reports in press). This system works well for polyembryonic mandarin types (i.e. W. Murcott, Ponkan) that are seedless or more recalcitrant using the common Agrobacterium-mediated citrus method. The method should also work well for lemons. Horticultural manipulations to reduce juvenility in commercial citrus: The RES (Rapid Evaluation System). ‘ Commercial sweet orange, grapefruit, and specialty mandarin cultivars were propagated and planted in the RES. Several juvenile hybrids from our breeding program flowered and set fruit after only one year – our goal is to force flowering and fruit set in juvenile sweet oranges and grapefruits in 1-2 years. If successful, the same approach could be applied to transgenics. A two-year old field trial using a juvenile Valencia budline on more than 70 rootstocks is showing significant rootstock affects on precocious bearing. Transformation of precocious but commercially important sweet orange clones: transgenic plants of precocious ‘Vernia’ sweet orange somaclones were regenerated and micrografted for further study of early flowering. Transgenic approaches to reduce juvenility: ‘ Whole plants generated from ciFT and empty vector control transformation experiments of Carrizo are being evaluated by both PCR amplification assays and a repeat of the screening histochemical GUS assay. No obvious phenotypes have yet been observed among the whole plants, however, flowers have occasionally been observed to occur on in vitro shoots. ‘ Putative transformed Duncan grapefruit whole plants in soil and shoots being rooted in vitro have been generated. We will be doing additional transformation experiments as soon as fresh seed becomes available. We will shortly have T1 seed from additional plants and will soon be able to proceed with assays to phenotype this generation and compare the effects that each of the ciFT genes has on expression and morphology. ‘Through a project being conducted by an HHMI-sponsored undergraduate student, Melanie Pajon, we will also be cloning the tomato FT ortholog and using it to obtain citrus transformed by a heterologous FT gene.Transformation of Samsun tobacco with the ciFT genes has resulted in a number of T0 plants of each of the 3 ciFT constructs, some of which have produced T1 seeds. We will shortly have T1 seed from additional plants and will soon be able to proceed with assays to phenotype this generation and compare the effects that each of the ciFT genes has on expression and morphology. Phenotypes of the T0 plants have ranged from early flowering, multi-branching, dwarfs to ones very similar in architectures in the wild type parent.
During the first quarter of funding, Core Citrus Transformation Facility (CCTF) continued to process the orders for transgenic Citrus material. Demand for genetically transformed citrus plants stayed high resulting in influx of new orders listed here by names of genes of interest or plasmids: p6; p33; p7; p10; pMOG8000; pAS7; pAS13*; pNAC1; pMKK7; pMOD1; and pSucNPR1. The work also continued on the old orders that were previously partially completed. Considering that transgenic Duncan plants carrying NPR1 gene exhibited significant resistance to Citrus canker, CCTF received order for production of commercially important Flame grapefruit cultivar transformed with the same NPR1 gene (order completed-NPR1 gene: 10 plants). A gene thought to be superior to NPR1 (so-called superNPR1) was introduced into Duncan grapefruit (superNPR1 gene: 12 plants). Introduction of NPR1 into Hamlin orange cultivar and superNPR1 into Flame is half completed. Work on the order pAS7 that is associated with HLB tolerance/resistance is half done (5 Duncan plants). Order that included use of pLC plasmid is also completed (8 Hamlin orange plants). Ten Mexican limes transformed with gene in pHK plasmid were produced, but satisfaction of this order will include production of more plants per client’s request. Five plants of Mexican lime transformed with p33 gene were also produced. CCTF produced more plants for the old orders: N1* gene: 3 Duncan; C5*: 3 Duncan; CL1 gene: 2 Valencia, 3 Duncan; CL2 gene: 1 Duncan; PiTA gene: 1 Valencia; CIT108p: 1 Flame. About thirty more soil-adapted plants will be submitted to the PCR testing as a secondary proof of their transgenicity before delivery to clients. Some of the funds from the grant were used to hire additional help through the summer resulting in seasonal increase of CCTF capabilities. Please be informed that the person directly managing the CCTF (and co-PI) is Dr. Vladimir Orbovic.
Since the end of April and the completion of the first year of our grant, we have pursued the following: – We have continued with population and grapefruit leaf disease/resistance studies to examine the effect of transiently expressed Bs3 promoter constructs on the growth of an expanded range of X. citri strains. These studies concur with the preliminary results showing that the constructs limit X. citri growth and produce HR against a number of strains. – We have continued to grow out stably transformed Duncan grapefruit lines and identified positive transgenics by PCR. – We have had some discussions with parties in Argentina about their interest in this genetic approach to controlling citrus canker. – We are selecting tobacco plants with the Bs3 promoter constructs driving reporter genes to aid in our investigation of the interaction of various X. citri TAL effectors with the promoter elements.
Six cDNA libraries were constructed from (a) adult/immature psyllids, dissected gut, salivary glands (PSGs) and accessory salivary glands (ASGs). The cDNA synthesis was based on the total amount of RNA: (a) The yield of total RNA for uninfected 1000 guts (PG) was 10.22 ug at a concentration 511 ng/ul in 20 ul. ESTs were trimmed and assembled, organized, and annotated using PAVE. NCBI nr db reveals short read matches to psyllid primary endosymbiont, while short and long EST reads were annotated using Uniprot. Prelim conclusion: endosymbiont nr db matches primarily, the primary sym Carsonella ruddii; ESTs encode psyllid proteins; (b) For psyllid Ca. Liberi-infected adults (PI), total RNA was obtained @11.44 ug at a concentration 572 ng/ul in a total volume of 20 ul) from tube ‘P-INF’ 8/12/2009: infected) for the library construction. Cataloging genes/proteins is underway for six libraries. We have made good progress optimizing the FISH assay on whole psyllids (adults, immatures) and dissected organs to minimize auto fluorescence and maximize signal using a probe for the primary endosymbiont 16S rRNA. Having sequenced random cDNA clones, assembled ESTs, and initiating data mining toward gene validation using FISH, we will next make libraries for short base read sequencing (RNAseq) to quantify expression in adults, immature instars, and eventually organs. We will carry out extensive sequencing for HLB+/- stages, instars, and organs (instead of microarray analysis) because the relative cost of sequencing has declined, as the extent of coverage vs. cost has increased. In this way we can more effectively compare expression levels between adult and immature psyllids, guts and salivary glands. Based on preliminary mining the pyro-sequencing and Illumina sequencing were highly successful; hits predict psyllid and primary endosymbiont, as well as other prokaryotic genes, including Ca. Liberibacter in infected psyllid colonies. In addition the putative ‘uninfected’ psyllids gave no Ca. Liberibacter hits, confirming colonies are HLB free, as has been indicated by qPCR results. Further, to date no phytoplasma sequences have been detected. Because studies indicated that 5th instar nymphs might better support Liberibacter accumulation over the adults, we constructed the following EST libraries: LB+/- adult psyllids; HLB+/- adult guts, and whole HLB+/- 4-5th instar psyllids. The rationale is that PSG/ASG transcripts will be present in the whole adult and 4-5th immature instar HLB+/- libraries. The salivary gland libraries will be constructed in Yr 2 for the potato psyllid because it is a more tractable system; once parameters are established to identify the point at which the bacterial titer is highest in these same organs for the Asian citrus psyllid PSG/ASG libraries will be made. Quantification can be achieved based on the downstream random cDNAs sequenced from HLB+/- adults, given a range of AAPs (0-40 days), compared to ESTs from adult or immature instars born and reared on HLB+/- plants. In this way we will learn how 4-5th immature instars compare to adults as reproductive hosts, and presently we are considering HLB+/- whole immature instars reared on infected plants. This will allow us to quantify gene expression in the various treatments, stages, and organs, while requiring fewer insects and organs (for mRNA) from time-course studies.
Huanglongbing (HLB) and Citrus Bacterial Canker (CBC) present serious threats to the future success of citrus production in the US. Insertion of transgenes conferring resistance to these diseases or the HLB insect vector is a promising solution. Genes for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with diverse promoters have been used to generate transformants of rootstock and scion genotypes. More active promoters, derived from ubiquitin genes, have been identified and used in recent transformations. A wide series of promoters driving a reporter gene are being tested in transformed citrus and show very different levels of expression. Liberibacter sequence data are being used to develop a transgenic solution for HLB-resistance, targeting a transmembrane transporter. Peptide has been made corresponding to the extra-membrane sequence and a phage display array system is being used to identify structures which are specific to this epitope, with tests against an E. coli containing the Liberibacter protein underway. When identified, transgenics will be constructed and challenged with Las. Collaboration with a USDA team in Albany, CA is providing constructs with enhanced promoter activity, minimal IP conflicts, and reduced regulatory and consumer concerns. Genes are being identified from citrus genomic data, from Carrizo citrange generated using USDA funds, to permit transformation and resistance using citrus-only sequences. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) continue to be assessed in-vitro for activity in suppressing growth of the bacteria causing CBC and two bacteria related to Liberibacter. In the initial studies, the synthetic AMPs D4E1 and D2A21 were among the most active, along with the Tachyplesin (which is among the most effective AMPs in Dr. Dawson’s CTV expression vector study), with minimum inhibitory concentrations at 1 ‘M or less across all test bacteria. An additional 20 synthetic AMPs were assessed, revealing several AMPs that were highly active against all test species, with negligible hemolytic activity, and some of these were constructed using key functional elements from the horseshoe crab-derived Tachyplesin. Four new and very potent variants have been tested in the last few months. Transformation constructs will be prepared to produce citrus with these AMP transgenes. Transgenes are being developed to suppress a lectin-like protein produced in the phloem of HLB-infected citrus. It is possible that suppression of this protein may significantly reduce disease symptoms. High throughput evaluation of HLB resistance will require the ability to efficiently assess resistance in numerous plants. Graft-inoculation, controlled psyllid-inoculation, and ‘natural’ psyllid inoculation in the field are being compared. After 1 year in the field, the first trial shows similar levels of infection across all three methods of Liberibacter transfer. The complete experiment is being repeated and planted in February 2010. the greenhouse complement to this study is showing earlier symptom development than field trees, especially from graft-inoculation.
Objective: Determine if Carrizo rootstocks, either wild type or over-expressing the Arabidopsis NPR1 gene (with an enhanced, inducible defense response) have any effect on gene expression and/or the defense response of wild type (non transgenic) grapefruit scions to HLB. Some transgenic ‘Carrizo’ citrange lines (lines 854, 857, 859 and 884) transformed with the AtNPR1 were produced in Year 1 of this project. In this quarter we were able to start to propagate new transgenic lines from cuttings: 757, 761, 763, 775, 854, 857, 890, 896 and 897, all transformed with the AtNPR1 (the plants were now large enough to propagate). We have also identified sequences for several additional citrus genes that are associated with SAR, including AZI1, BLI, CHI, R13032, R20540, RAR1 and SGT1. These genes were preciously undescribed for citrus, however our microarray studies indicated that these sequences were differentially regulated by chemical and pathogen treatment. R13032 and R20540 belong to the NPR1/NPR3 family of genes in citrus and our experiments show they are all differentially expressed during SAR. Objective 1 of this project proposed to compare the response of AtNPR1 transgenic plants vs. wild type plants to the treatment of the SAR inducer salicylic acid (SA). This has been done with the first set of transgenic lines but we wish to repeat the experiment when the new plants have been propagated so we have more replications.
Note that this report corresponds to the first of the two additional quarterly updates mandated in amendment #1 of the no-cost extension for the first year of grant #123. Objective III: Bioinformatic analysis of Ca. L. asiaticus sequence data Bacterial proteins mediating interactions with the environment and with host organisms are commonly found in the periplasm and bacterial outer membrane. To identify the likely set of Las-encoded proteins targeted to regions of the cell outside the cytoplasm, all predicted Las proteins were evaluated for the presence of predicted signal peptides and lipoprotein signals using the SignalP and LipoP programs. Resulting predictions are posted on the CG-HLB Genome Resources website together with the repetitive sequences, transcription factor binding sites, and horizontally transferred regions predicted previously. Objective II: Website creation and development To better display the accumulated data on bioinformatic characterization of Ca. L. asiaticus, a new genome viewing utility is being added to the CG-HLB Genome Resources website for presentation at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society (APS) Meeting (August 7-11). Guidelines and materials for use of the Artemis Genome Viewer will remain on the site; however, the GBrowse based viewer (see http://gmod.org/wiki/Ggb/ for typical display) is more easily accessed by a wider audience and can be readily expanded to include a broad range of bioinformatic data and comparative analyses. Data presented in the GBrowse viewer is organized as a linear display of genes as they are found in the Las genome, and through which the user can scroll or zoom. Tracks corresponding to different aspects of genome characterization are graphically displayed below the main genome entry with hyperlinks to other databases included as appropriate. Tracks have been installed for all predicted proteins with links to records at NCBI, all predicted proteins having links to the COG database (as a source of functional information), subcellular localization as predicted by Psortb, and operon predictions generated using DOOR. Transcription factor binding sites, repetitive regions (of particular interest for diagnostic purposes), and signal peptide predictions will also be incorporated. In addition to functioning as a central data clearinghouse for analyses performed by my group as well as by other genome-related databases, this type of display can also accommodate analyses such as the 3D protein structural predictions currently being generated by the Grishin group and orthology between the published Las genome sequence and those of other strains and species of Liberibacter. The new genome viewer is expected to go live during the next couple weeks. At that time, all registered users of the CG-HLB Genome Resources Website will be invited to try out this new feature, and feedback and additional data will be solicited. Different features of the viewer as well as the component analyses will be discussed at the ‘Candidatus Liberbacter/ Epidemiology & Ecology’ technical session at the upcoming APS meeting.
Researchers at the USDA Ft. Pierce: Progress this past year in the various components of a mature citrus transformation system is as follows: Source of mature tissue) Four populations of adult phase trees were established in the greenhouse including Valencia sweet orange/Sun Chu Sha (73 trees), Ruby Red grapefruit/US812 (62 trees), US-942 citrange rootstock/Cleo (32 trees), Calamondin (31 trees), and Etrog Arizona 861-S1 citron (67 trees). Decontamination protocol) A decontamination protocol was developed that results in >90% clean explants, sufficient for tissue culture studies and practical applications. In vitro bud emergence and growth) A system was developed for the production of in vitro adult phase shoots from cultured nodes of greenhouse trees. Factors important in bud emergence and growth were identified and a system developed to initiate bud emergence and growth with reduced leaf drop. A manuscript has been prepared that documents this research. Shoot regeneration from mature tissue explants) A system was developed for the production of shoots from cultured internodes from greenhouse trees. Factors (e.g., pre-incubation tissue treatments, plant growth regulators, and incubation conditions) important in bud formation and shoot growth were identified and a system developed that is suitable for sweet orange, grapefruit, calamondin, and US-942 (Note: citron was just recently added so has not yet been tested). The system results in shoot and bud formation in 70-90% of the explants. A manuscript is in preparation that documents this research. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of mature tissue explants) Transformation of mature internode explants from greenhouse trees has been demonstrated in grapefruit and US-942 using the GUS reporter gene. Though these are the first experiments, the results document that we have a functional mature tissue transformation system. Because explants were stained for GUS activity once shoot buds were observed, we can make no predictions on the efficiency of transformed shoot recovery. Current efforts are now directed toward identifying the factors important for a system of sufficient efficiency for routine transgenic plant production. At the CREC in the Gmitter lab, work is continuing on the use of Thin Cell Layers (TCLs) as explants for mature tissue transformation. Experiments have been done to induce regeneration in the TCLs by manipulating the amount of growth regulators, carbon source and also by pre-treating the TCLs with BA but regeneration is still problematic from these explants. In the Grosser lab, Hamlin mature budwood source trees were grown on a selected complex rootstock that seems to have superior nutrient uptake, and nutrition was provided by a new granular slow release product that has been showing excellent results with nursery and field trees. Six transgenic Hamlin lines stably expressing the GFP gene were regenerated from the 1st experiment using the first flush on the grafted trees as explants. In subsequent experiments, subsequent flushes on the same trees yielded no transgenics, indicating that the regeneration potential diminishes with sequential flushes. In the Machado laboratory in Brazil, regeneration ability of sweet oranges Pera, Valencia, Natal and Hamlin was evaluated by testing: different hormone combinations, the effect of the physiological age of the sprouting, and CTV infected and free tissue. Remarkable differences between genotypes regarding the capacity to transform juvenile tissues with Agrobacterium were observed. Optimum conditions, tissues and genotypes are being used in experiments with mature tissues. In the Moore laboratory in Gainesville, experiments have focused on using small peptides as vehicles to deliver cargos to plant tissues. If these techniques could be worked out they would have a number of applications for citrus transformation, perhaps even eventually allowing the transfer of genes or gene products to existing trees. Experiments this year demonstrated that enzyme (in this case GUS) could be delivered into plant tissues, including whole alfalfa seedlings, mung bean roots and citrus suspension cultures.
As proposed, a transgenic test site has been prepared at the USDA/ARS USHRL Picos Farm in Ft. Pierce. A new 8 acre site has been bedded, supplied with irrigation, and a ground cover established. Several acres in the far NE corner have been prepared for Dr. Dawson’s proposed field test of modified CTV expression vectors designed to produce anti-microbial peptides in citrus host plants. APHIS specified that Dr. Dawson’s site be as far from existing commercial citrus groves as possible, and recommended the NE corner of the Picos Farm. There has been no recent word on the progress of APHIS approval for this project. If it does not go forward on this site, we will make available existing HLB-infected trees for grafting of transgenics as a rigorous and rapid test for resistance/immunity/ Answers have been provided to numerous questions from regulators to facilitate field testing approval. Cooperators have been made aware that the site is ready for planting. Dr. Jude Grosser of UF has provided 300 transgenic citrus plants expressing genes expected to provide HLB/canker resistance, which have been planted in the test site. Trees were sprayed with microsprinklers throughout the winter freeze, and trees are unscathed. USHRL has a permit approved from APHIS to conduct field trials of their transgenic plants at this site, and 1000 transgenic plants will be planted by July 1, 2010. An MTA is now in place to permit planting of Texas A&M transgenics produced by Erik Mirkov. Alphascents has provided an experimental pheromone attract/kill product Malex to disrupt citrus leaf miner (CLM). Our experience suggests CLM may significantly compromise tree growth where insecticides are avoided to permit ready transfer of Las by psyllids. CLM damage also compromises ability to view HLB symptoms. It is requested that the second year of funding, at $84,405, be initiated on July 1, 2010. Thousands of additional transgenic trees will be planted and screened in the coming year. This budget includes $30,000 for land charges (standard USHRL fee is $3000/acre) plus $54,405 in funding for a GS-7 technician.
Objective 1: Transform citrus with constitutively active resistance proteins (R proteins) that will only be expressed in phloem cells. The rationale is that by constitutive expression of an R protein, the plant innate immunity response will be at a high state of alert and will be able to mount a robust defense against infection by phloem pathogens. Overexpression of R proteins often results in lethality or in severe stunting of growth. By restricting expression to phloem cells we hope to limit the negative impact on growth and development. Results: We have transformed arabidopsis plants with a total of 12 constructs comprised of two versions of the AtSUC2 phloem-specific promoter driving expression of three variations of two resistance proteins, AtSSI4 and AtSNC1. The R genes were introduced as wild type, as constitutive expression mutants and as deletion mutants lacking the LRR region thought to be involved in signal perception. Overexpression of constitutive mutants of these two R proteins has been reported by others to exhibit enhanced SA accumulation and constitutive pathogen resistance; however, the transformed plants show dwarfism. Overexpression of wild type AtSSI4 showed no stunting, while the evidence in not as clear with overexpression of AtSNC1. In our experiments, restricting expression of the R proteins to the phloem cells caused no signs of stunted growth with any of the R protein constructs. While this was true for the majority of transformants, some plants exhibited stunted growth for some of the constructs. For example for the Atssi4 constitutive mutant, 2 plants out of 41 showed stunting. For Atsnc1, 5 out of 60 transformants showed a stunted phenotype. We are currently determining the level of expression of the transgenes and of their predicted target genes (PR1 and PR2). Conclusions: Our hypothesis was that phloem-restricted expression of the R protein mutants would limit potential negative impacts on growth. If results confirm that the wild type and constitutive mutant forms of the two R proteins are expressed in the transgenic arabidopsis plants, then this important requirement in our overall approach has been met. Our next step is to transfer these R protein constructs to citrus and test for expression and disease resistance.
The main objective of our project during this first year was hiring a Florida-based faculty scientist that could be trained under our supervision in Spain, for the purpose of learning the mature tissue transformation technology and transferring it to Florida. Moreover, we had the commitment to establish genetic transformation systems for mature materials from the most important sweet orange varieties grown in Florida and the Carrizo citrange rootstock. The Florida-based faculty scientist was hired (Dr. Cecilia Zapata) on October 2009 and a few weeks later started the training at the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA). She has been trained in all tissue culture techniques associated with mature citrus transformation, starting with preparation of the source of material, and ending with the acclimation of transformants in the greenhouse. She will finalize her second 3-month-stay in our lab next July 2010. In this final stage, we are focusing on improving transformation methods for more recalcitrant types, making molecular analysis of the putative transformants and on starting plant material preparation at the greenhouse. Transformation experiments were performed with three (3) sweet orange varieties: Hamlin, Valencia and Pineapple (used as readily transformable control). Mature Valencia was very responsive to transformation and organogenic regeneration and transgenic plants have been already acclimated in the greenhouse. Hamlin was more difficult to transform due to quality problems with the starting material and tissue culture media, and procedures specific to this genotype were needed. To date, transformants have been also obtained from this orange type and verified as positive using PCR. The plants are still growing in vitro and will be transferred to the greenhouse within a few weeks. Carrizo citrange transformation experiments were initiated later but putative transformants have been already generated and micrografted in vitro. The second objective of this project is related with the necessity of implementing new cultural practices to be able to survive with the HLB disease in Florida until a definitive solution is found. We have proposed the use of strategies to control tree size and productivity by genetic modification of either the rootstock or the scion through over-expression of flowering-time or gibberellin biosynthesis genes. This could permit to establish reduced but highly-productive trees at higher planting density which would facilitate flush management and mechanical fruit harvesting. For generating more compact and productive varieties, we are ectopically expressing the flowering time genes FT or AP1 from sweet orange in juvenile sweet orange. Additionally, we are overexpressing these same genes in Carrizo citrange in an attempt to modulate its architecture and reduce its size. More than 10 independent transgenic lines have been generated for each construct and genotype. In both genotypes, overexpression of the FT transgene led to early flowering in vitro and poor regeneration. Once transferred to the greenhouse, transgenic plants continued flowering and consequently their vegetative development was generally very poor, indicating that this transgene could be of interest for other biotechnological application but not to modify the architecture of either a scion or a rootstock. In the case of AP1, some of the transformants showed a compact and branched phenotype. This phenotype remained once plants were established in the greenhouse. We are waiting them to flower and fruit possibly next spring. Moreover, for generating a dwarf-dwarfing rootstock, we are making a construct aimed to induce RNA interference to downregulate the expression of a crucial gene in gibberellin biosynthesis, CcGA20ox1, in Carrizo citrange. We will focus in this sub-objective during the second year of the project.
Seed from new crosses to develop rootstocks and scions were planted in the greenhouse. New crosses were completed with more than forty different genetic combinations. Fruit quality, yield, and tree size data were collected from 16 rootstock field trials. Propagations from supersour rootstock hybrids were prepared for budding to produce trees for disease testing and field trials. Rootstock liners were budded with scions to prepare trees for trials. Budded greenhouse trees for field trials were grown to planting size. Two new rootstock field trials were planted into the field. Three new field trials were planted at the Whitmore Farm in Lake County to study inheritance of fruit quality factors in sweet orange-type material from populations of hybrids between high quality pummelo and mandarin parents. One of these was planted on trellis to also examine the effect of tree manipulations on the length of time for transition from juvenility to maturity. Studies continue to assess citrus germplasm tolerance to Huanglongbing (HLB) and Phytophthora/Diaprepes in the greenhouse and under field conditions. Greenhouse trees inoculated with Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were tested for virus titer in preparation for CTV-induced decline evaluation of supersour rootstocks. More than fifty citrus genotypes and citrus relatives, as well as thousands of progeny from crosses, have been challenged by natural inoculation with Liberibacter in the field, and data are being collected on HLB symptoms and Liberibacter titer by PCR. Detailed information is being collected on HLB tolerance and tree performance in four rootstock field trials. All citrus germplasm and cultivars become infected with Liberibacter when inoculated, but different germplasm responds to HLB infection at different rates and with different symptom severity. Some trifoliate hybrid rootstocks, including US-897, exhibit tolerance to HLB as seedling trees. Some hybrid selections resembling mandarin, grapefruit, and sweet orange also appear to exhibit some tolerance to HLB. Greenhouse and field studies are continuing to determine the most efficient methods to evaluate new citrus germplasm from crosses and transformation for resistance or tolerance to HLB. In coordinated research between this grant and the FCATP transgenic citrus grant to USDA, selected anti-microbial, insect resistance, and other genes were inserted into outstanding rootstock and scion cultivars to develop new cultivars with resistance to HLB and Citrus Bacterial Canker. Transformed trees containing seven different promoters and three new anti-bacterial genes were prepared for greenhouse testing with HLB. Genetic transformation was used to introduce the citrus FT gene for induction of early flowering into citrus scion and rootstock germplasm. Manipulation of this gene with inducible promoters will drastically accelerate the pace of cultivar development (shortening the generation time from 6-15 years to 1 year) and can also be used to increase early cropping of commercial trees. To date, the early flowering gene has been introduced into Hamlin, Ray Ruby, US-812, and US-942. Four new hybrid rootstocks, US-1235, US-1239, US-1225, and US-1241, were identified as especially promising for expanded field trials in the coming year. Promising new scion cultivars were released, including the seedless mandarin cultivar ‘Early Pride’. The new hybrid rootstock US-942 is being released for commercial use because of outstanding performance in many trials. Research is continuing to use HLB responsive genes and promoters identified in the gene expression study published last year for inducing or engineering resistance in citrus. New studies were initiated to examine gene expression and metabolic changes associated with HLB disease development and apparent resistance to Liberibacter in particular selections. This will provide additional insights about how to engineer HLB resistant cultivars. A study demonstrating no evidence for seed transmission of HLB was published in HortScience. A field day was held at the Ft. Pierce USDA farm to highlight progress in development of new cultivars, and performance information from several rootstock trials was presented.
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