Plant Disease


Publications
271

Detection and molecular characterization of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ in Colombian oil palms affected by Lethal Wilt Disease

Citation
Chaves-Sierra et al. (2025). Plant Disease
Names
Liberibacter
Abstract
Lethal wilt (LW), also known as “Marchitez Letal (ML)” in Colombia, is an endemic disease affecting oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and is a leading cause of crop loss. The disease is characterized by the drying of leaflets from the tip to the base, primarily impacting the lower third of the plant and progressively moving upward. This progression leads to physiological disturbances, including necrosis at the tips of immature inflorescence bracts (spines) and the detachment of bunch fruits,

First Report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’-Related Strain and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’-Related Strain Associated with North American Grapevine Yellows of Cultivated Grapevines in Minnesota

Citation
Bratsch et al. (2025). Plant Disease
Names
Ca. Phytoplasma pruni Ca. Phytoplasma asteris
Abstract
Surveys for exotic plant pests conducted during July and August of 2023 and 2024 across 20 vineyards in 12 counties throughout Minnesota, USA, revealed that less than 2% of the approximatively 3000 vines inspected (Vitis spp., hybrid grape varieties) exhibited symptoms suggestive of phytoplasma yellows disease. Observed symptoms included yellowing of leaf lamina, downward rolling of leaf margins, and necrosis of leaf margins. To investigate a potential association between these symptoms and phy

Optimizing qPCR Detection of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’: Introducing a New Type of Internal Standard

Citation
Phillips et al. (2025). Plant Disease
Names
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Abstract
‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), the agent associated with the Huanglongbing (HLB) citrus disease, is commonly detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with hydrolysis probes. Internal standards are typically included in the qPCR assays to reduce the risk of false negatives caused by inhibitors. When the internal standard is detected but CLas is not, it is generally assumed that the pathogen is absent from the tested sample. However, our study shows that trace amo

Multiplex Quantitative PCR for the Detection of Bacteria Associated with Huanglongbing ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,’ ‘Ca. L. americanus,’ and 16Sr IX Group Phytoplasma

Citation
Martins et al. (2025). Plant Disease 109 (3)
Names
Ca. Phytoplasma Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus Liberibacter
Abstract
The occurrence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp. and ‘Ca. Phytoplasma’ spp. associated with blotchy mottle symptoms poses challenges to huanglongbing (HLB) diagnosis using molecular techniques. The ability to detect multiple targets simultaneously and specifically is a key aspect met by quantitative PCR (qPCR). A set of primers and hydrolysis probes useful in either single or multiplex reactions for the detection and quantification of HLB-associated bacteria were developed. Sequences from conse

Genomic Analysis of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter africanus’ Strain from Zimbabwe Reveals Unique Virulence and Prophage Characteristics Compared with ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’

Citation
Zheng et al. (2025). Plant Disease
Names
“Liberibacter solanacearum” Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus Ca. Liberibacter africanus Liberibacter
Abstract
Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is caused by the phloem-limited α-proteobacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter spp.’, among which ‘Ca. L. africanus’ (CLaf) has posed a significant threat to citrus production in Africa for nearly a century. CLaf is closely related to the globally prevalent ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ (CLas), whereas little is known about the virulence of CLaf, primarily because of limited genome resources. In this study, we completed the whole-genome assembly and annotation of the CLaf strain Zim

Confirmation of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in Asian Citrus Psyllids and Detection of Asian Citrus Psyllids in Commercial Citrus in Georgia (U.S.A.)

Citation
Collins et al. (2024). Plant Disease
Names
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Abstract
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is the vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of citrus greening or Huanglongbing (HLB), one of the most devastating citrus diseases worldwide. The citrus industry in Georgia (U.S.A.) is in the process of a rapid expansion, and based on experiences with HLB in Florida, there is great concern about the potential impacts of HLB on this emerging industry. Prior to 2023, ACP had been identified in residential citrus trees in isolated Geor

Development of a TaqMan Assay for the Detection of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense’ and Assessment by High-Resolution Melt Curve Analysis

Citation
Lane et al. (2024). Plant Disease 108 (10)
Names
Ca. Phytoplasma brasiliense
Abstract
‘Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense’ (CPB) is a phytoplasma originally discovered in South America and is known to infect a wide variety of economically important crops. It is most prevalent in Hibiscus spp., where it causes witches broom symptoms, and papaya, where it causes bunchy top. Recently, CPB was documented for the first time in North America in a new host, globe sedge. In this study, two quantitative PCR assays are developed: one using high-resolution melt curve analysis (HRMA) based