Citrus huanglongbing in Sa ˜o Paulo State, Brazil: PCR detection of the ‘Candidatus’ Liberibacter species associated with the disease Diva do Carmo Teixeira a , Jean Luc Danet b , Sandrine Eveillard b , Elaine Cristina Martins a , Waldir Cintra de Jesus Junior a , Pedro Takao Yamamoto a , Silvio Aparecido Lopes a , Renato Beozzo Bassanezi a , Antonio Juliano Ayres a , Colette Saillard b , Joseph Marie Bove ´ b, * a Fundecitrus, Av. Dr. Adhemar Pereira de Barros, 201, CEP 14807-040 Araraquara, SP, Brazil b IBVM, Centre INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Universite ´ de Bordeaux 2, Laboratoire de Biologie cellulaire et mole ´culaire, 71, Avenue Edouard Bordeaux, B.P. 81, 33883 Villenave d’Ornon Cedex, France Received 16 September 2004; accepted for publication 12 November 2004 Abstract Symptoms of huanglongbing (HLB), one of the most serious diseases of citrus in Asia and Africa, have been noticed in March 2004 in the Araraquara region of Sa ˜o Paulo State, Brazil. HLB has not been reported previously from America. The causal HLB bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter africanus in Africa and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in Asia, can be detected in symptomatic citrus leaves by PCR amplification of their 16S rDNA with previously described primers. When this technique was applied to 43 symptomatic leaf samples from the Araraquara region, all PCR reactions were negative. This suggested that a new pathogen, not detected by the above primers, could be involved in HLB in the State of Sa ˜o Paulo. Indeed, by using universal primers for amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA, a new liberibacter species, Candidatus Liberibacter americanus, has recently been identified. Specific primers for PCR amplification of the 16S rDNA of Ca. L. americanus have been selected. Using these primers, the new liberibacter could be detected in 214 symptomatic leaf samples tested. The leaves of two additional samples were infected with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, and two further samples contained both Ca. L. americanus and Ca. L. asiaticus. The samples came from 47 farms in 35 municipalities. The psyllid vector of Ca. L. asiaticus, Diaphorina citri, is established in South, Central, and North America (Florida and Texas). Ca. L. americanus could be detected by PCR in several batches of D. citri psyllids collected on symptomatic sweet orange trees infected with Ca. L. americanus, strongly suggesting that D. citri is the vector of Ca. L. americanus. The results reported here confirm the presence of HLB in the State of Sa ˜o Paulo. Ca. L. americanus is the most widely distributed pathogen. q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Citrus; Huanglongbing; Greening; Liberibacter; 16S rDNA; Brazil 1. Introduction Huanglongbing (HLB), previously called greening, is one of the most serious diseases of citrus. The causal agent is a non-cultured, sieve tube-restricted member of the a- subdivision of the Proteobacteria: Candidatus Liberibacter africanus in Africa and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in Asia [1]. HLB has not been reported previously from America. However, the Asian psyllid vector of Ca. L. asiaticus, Diaphorina citri, is established in South, Central, and North America (Florida and Texas). The insect reached Brazil 60 years ago, but entered Texas only in 2001. In March 2004, leaf and fruit symptoms resembling those of HLB were observed in several sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) orchards in the Araraquara area of Sa ˜o Paulo State. Leaf mottling or ‘blotchy mottle’ [2], a characteristic feature of HLB, was the major foliar symptom. Fruits were small and lopsided, and contained many aborted seeds [3]. A PCR method has been described previously, and permits the detection of the two liberibacters in citrus leaves by amplification of an 1160 bp fragment of their 16S rDNA [4]. With both liberibacter species, the size of the amplicon is 0890-8508/$ - see front matter q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.mcp.2004.11.002 Molecular and Cellular Probes 19 (2005) 173–179 www.elsevier.com/locate/ymcpr * Corresponding author. Tel.: C33 670 774 883; fax: C33 557 122 369. E-mail address: [email protected] (J.M. Bove ´).
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Citrus huanglongbing in São Paulo State, Brazil: PCR detection of the ‘Candidatus’ Liberibacter species associated with the disease
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Citrus huanglongbing in Sao Paulo State, Brazil: PCR detection of the
‘Candidatus’ Liberibacter species associated with the disease
Diva do Carmo Teixeiraa, Jean Luc Danetb, Sandrine Eveillardb, Elaine Cristina Martinsa,Waldir Cintra de Jesus Juniora, Pedro Takao Yamamotoa, Silvio Aparecido Lopesa,
Renato Beozzo Bassanezia, Antonio Juliano Ayresa, Colette Saillardb, Joseph Marie Boveb,*
aFundecitrus, Av. Dr. Adhemar Pereira de Barros, 201, CEP 14807-040 Araraquara, SP, BrazilbIBVM, Centre INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Universite de Bordeaux 2, Laboratoire de Biologie cellulaire et moleculaire,
shows the sequence of forward primer (GB1) and reverse
primer (GB3) in comparison with corresponding sequences
of Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L. africanus 16S rDNAs. The use
of these primers leads to a 1027 bp amplicon. The PCR
reaction was performed in 40 ml of reaction mixture
containing 1 mM of each of the primers, 200 mM of each
of the four dNTP, 2 mM MgCl2, 20 mM Tris–HCl pH 8.4,
50 mM KCl, 1.5 U of Taq polymerase (Promega), and 1 ml
of DNA preparation. A mastercycle gradient thermocycler
(Eppendorf) with the following program was used for DNA
amplification: 35 cycles each at 94 8C for 45 s, 64 8C for
45 s, and 72 8C for 60 s. Following amplification, 10 ml
aliquots of each reaction mixture were analysed by
electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gels.
2.4. PCR detection of Ca. L. africanus and Ca. L. asiaticus
PCR was performed according to [4] with 35 cycles each
at 92 8C for 40 s, and 72 8C for 90 s (annealing and primer
extension at same temperature). The reaction mixture was
the same than that for Ca. L. americanus. As shown on
Fig. 1, the sequence of reverse primer OI2c is the same for
both liberibacters. The sequences of forward primer OA1 for
Ca. L. africanus and OI1 for Ca. L. asiaticus are identical
except that GCA in OI1 is replaced by TTT in OA1. Both
forward primers were used in the reaction mixture to favor
amplification of either one of the two liberibacters [4].
Following amplification, the reaction mixture was analysed
on 1.2% agarose gels. The amplified DNA has a size of
1160 bp for both liberibacters. However, the 1160 bp
amplicon from Ca. L. asiaticus has one Xba1 restriction
site and yields two fragments upon digestion (640 and
520 bp), while Ca. L. africanus has two such sites, and gives
three fragments (520, 506, and 130 bp) [4]. The Xba1 test
was used to identify the liberibacter involved.
Fig. 1. Sequences of PCR primers for amplification of liberibacter 16S rDNA. GB1 and GB3: respectively, forward and reverse primers for Ca. L. americanus
16S rDNA amplification. OI1 and OI2c: respectively, forward and reverse primers for Ca. L. asiaticus 16S rDNA amplification. OA1 and OI2c: respectively,
forward and reverse primers for Ca. L. africanus 16S rDNA amplification. The ! indicates a mismatche between primers for Ca. L. americanus, and primers for
Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L. africanus.
D. do Carmo Teixeira et al. / Molecular and Cellular Probes 19 (2005) 173–179 175
3. Results
3.1. Attempts to detect Ca. L. africanus and Ca. L. asiaticus
by PCR in symptomatic leaf samples collected
in April and June, 2004
In April and June, 2004, soon after HLB had been
reported in Sao Paulo State, at a time when Ca. L.
americanus had not yet been discovered, 43 symptomatic
sweet orange leaf samples were collected in seven citrus
farms in the Araraquara region (Fig. 2). All samples gave
negative PCR reactions with the primers specific of Ca. L.
africanus and Ca. L.asiaticus 16S rDNA (Fig. 3) under
conditions where symptomatic control leaves infected with
Fig. 2. Map of Sao Paulo State showing the citrus area in green, and, in red, the 35 m
found. Position of Sao Paulo city and Araraquara city is indicated by a black dot
Ca. L. asiaticus (Fig. 3, AS) or Ca. L. africanus (Fig. 3, AF)
gave positive reactions. Fig. 3 represents the results from
only 31 of the 43 samples. The results from the other
samples were similarly negative (data not shown).
3.2. PCR detection of Ca. L. americanus and Ca. L.
asiaticus in symptomatic leaves
By July 2004, specific primers for PCR amplification of
Ca. L. americanus 16S rDNA (Fig. 1, GB1/GB3) became
available [3]. These primers, as well as the primers specific
for the PCR detection of Ca. L. africanus and Ca. L.
asiaticus (Fig. 1, OI1C OA1/OI2c) were used for the
detection of the three liberibacters in each leaf sample
unicipaloties, where citrus trees infected with HLB liberibacters have been
and a white dot, respectively.
Fig. 3. Agarose gel electrophoresis of symptomatic leaf DNA amplified with 16S rDNA primers (OI1C OA1)/OI2c, specific for Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L.
africanus. 1–31: DNA from symptomatic leaf samples 1–31, collected in April and June, 2004. AS and AF: DNA from symptomatic Hamlin sweet orange
leaves, respectively, infected with Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L. africanus. H: DNA from healthy sweet orange leaves. Leaves for AS, AF, and H were from the
Bordeaux greenhouse. O: amplification in the absence of DNA. M; DNA size markers.
D. do Carmo Teixeira et al. / Molecular and Cellular Probes 19 (2005) 173–179176
collected. One aliquot of the DNA from a leaf sample was
used for the detection of Ca. L. americanus, and a second
aliquot served for the detection of Ca. L. africanus and/or
Ca. L. asiaticus in the same leaf sample.
3.2.1. Leaf samples collected in April and June, 2004
The DNAs of these samples had been saved, and were
used again in August 2004, when the Ca. L. americanus
primers GB1/GB3 had become available. As before, all 43
samples tested negative for Ca. L. africanus and Ca. L.
asiaticus, but they were all positive when assayed for Ca. L.
americanus. Fig. 4 shows the results obtained, respectively
with samples 1–5, and 11–18. The other April–June samples
(samples 6–10, and 19–43) gave identical results (data not
shown). As illustrated on Fig. 4, the PCR reactions were
negative with healthy leaves (H), and in the absence of DNA
(O). Primers GB1/GB3 (Am on Fig. 4) were specific for
Fig. 4. Agarose gel electrophoresis of symptomatic leaf DNA amplified with 16S
africanus, and 16S rDNA primers GB1/GB3, specific for Ca. L. americanus. Sympt
Fig. 3. AM: DNA from symptomatic sweet orange leaves infected with Ca. L. am
Ca. L. americanus, as no amplification was obtained with
DNA from control leaves infected with Ca. L. africanus (AF
on Fig. 4) or Ca. L. asiaticus (AS on Fig. 4). Inversely,
primers (OA1C OI1)/OI2c (As on Fig. 4), specific for Ca.
L. africanus and Ca. L. asiaticus, gave no amplification with
Ca. L. americanus-infected citrus leaves (Fig. 4, lanes ‘b’).
Finally, as seen on the gels of Fig. 4–6 and 8, the 16S rDNA
amplicon from Ca. L. americanus, with a size of 1027 bp,
was easily distinguishable from the 1160 bp amplicon
characteristic of the other two liberibacters.
3.2.2. Leaf samples collected in August, 2004
Additional symptomatic citrus leaf samples were col-
lected in August 2004. Among these samples, 171 gave
the same results than the previous 43 samples: the PCR
reactions with the primers for Ca. L. americanus were
positive, but negative with the primers for Ca. L. africanus
rDNA primers (OI1C OA1)/OI2c, specific for Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L.
omatic citrus leaf samples 1–5 and 11–18 were collected in April/June 2004.
d with Am. (b) DNA aliquots amplified with As. AS, AF, H, M, and O: as in
ericanus.
Fig. 5. Agarose gel electrophoresis of symptomatic leaf DNA amplified with 16S rDNA primers (OI1C OA1)/OI2c, specific for Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L.
africanus, and 16S rDNA primers GB1/GB3, specific for for Ca. L. americanus. Symptomatic citrus leaf samples 50, 64–67, and 69–71 were collected in July,
2004. DNA aliquots a and b, AM, Am and As: as in Fig. 4. AS, M, and O: as in Fig. 3.
D. do Carmo Teixeira et al. / Molecular and Cellular Probes 19 (2005) 173–179 177
and Ca. L. asiaticus. Fig. 5 shows the results for some of these
samples. Eventually however, four samples gave a positive
PCR reaction with the primers for Ca. L. africanus and Ca. L.
asiaticus, and the Xba1 test identified the liberibacter as Ca.
L. asiaticus. Two of these samples, sample 51, from a
Murcott tangor orchard, and sample 121, from a ‘Hamlin’
sweet orange orchard, were infected with Ca. L. asiaticus
only, but sample 34, from a backyard ‘Lima’ sweet orange
tree, and sample 322, from a Pera sweet orange tree, were
positive for both Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L. americanus. The
results from samples 34 and 51 are illustrated on Fig. 6. The
results from samples 34, 51 and 121, were confirmed a first
time with additional leaves of these samples, which had been
left over and kept at 4 8C, and a second time with a new batch
of leaves collected on the same trees.
In total, Ca. L. americanus was detected in 216 citrus leaf
samples, of which five were from Ponkan mandarin trees, one
from a Murcott tangor tree, two from Cravo mandarin trees,
and 208 from sweet orange trees. All sweet orange varieties,
including ‘Chamout’, ‘Hamlin’, ‘Lima’, ‘Natal’, ‘Pera’,
‘Valencia’ and ‘Westin’, were found to be infected. The 216
samples were from 47 farms in 35 municipalities (Fig. 2).
Only four samples were found to be infected with
Ca. L. asiaticus, of which two were also infected with
Ca. L. americanus. The four farms in which Ca. L. asiaticus
Fig. 6. Agarose gel electrophoresis of symptomatic leaf DNA amplified with 16S
africanus, and 16S rDNA primers GB1/GB3, specific for for Ca. L. americanus. S
from samples 34 and 51, amplified with Am. 34b and 51b: DNA aliquots from sam
and O: as in Fig. 3.
was detected, had also trees infected with Ca. L. americanus.
No evidence was obtained for the presence of Ca. L.
africanus.
3.3. Search for Ca. L. americanus, Ca. L. africanus and Ca.
L. asiaticus in symptomless leaves by PCR
Samples of symptomless leaves were collected on three
types of trees: (i) on symptomatic trees, opposite the
affected sector, (ii) on symptomless trees adjacent to
symptomatic trees, and (iii) on symptomless trees from a
region not affected by HLB. As expected from previous
experience, all symptomless leaves gave negative PCR
reactions (data not shown).
3.4. Search for Ca. L. americanus, Ca. L. africanus and
Ca. L. asiaticus in D. citri psyllids by PCR
D. citri psyllids were collected on three Pera sweet
orange trees with severe symptoms of HLB and shown by
PCR to be infected with Ca. L. americanus only.
In the experiment of Fig. 7, 22 batches of psyllids (10
insects per batch) were tested by PCR for the presence of
liberibacters. The 22 batches gave negative PCR reactions
with the primers specific for Ca. L. africanus and
rDNA primers (OI1C OA1)/OI2c, specific for Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca. L.
amples 34 and 51 were collected in July 2004. 34a and 51a: DNA aliquots
ples 34 and 51, amplified with As. AM, Am and As: as in Fig. 4. AS, H, M,
Fig. 7. Agarose gel electrophoresis of Diaphorina citri psyllid DNA amplified with 16S rDNA primers (OI1C OA1)/OI2c, specific for Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca.
L. africanus (A), and 16S rDNA primers GB1/GB3, specific for for Ca. L. americanus (B). 1–22: amplified DNA from 22 psyllid batches (10 psyllids per
batch). Arrows indicate lanes with a DNA band amplified.from psyllid DNA. AF, AS, H, M, and O: as in Fig. 3. AM: as in Fig. 4.
D. do Carmo Teixeira et al. / Molecular and Cellular Probes 19 (2005) 173–179178
Ca. L. asiaticus (Fig. 7A), as expected, since the insects were
collected on trees that were not infected with these
liberibacters. However, with primers specific for Ca. L.
americanus, several batches of insects gave positve PCR