Liberibacter crescens
is a bacterium that is closely related to plant pathogens that have caused billions of dollars in crop losses in recent years. Particularly devastating are citrus losses due to citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, which is caused by “
Candidatus
Liberibacter asiaticus” and carried by the Asian citrus psyllid.
L. crescens
is the only close relative of “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus” that can currently be grown in culture, and it therefore serves as an important model organism for the growth, genetic manipulation, and biological control of the pathogenic species. Here, we show that one of the greatest limitations to
L. crescens
growth is the sharp increase in alkaline conditions it produces as a consequence of consumption of its preferred nutrient source. In addition to new information about
L. crescens
growth and metabolism, we provide new guidelines for culture conditions that improve the survival and yield of
L. crescens
.