Photodynamic control of citrus crop diseases

AbstractCitrus are economically important fruit crops to which infectious diseases like citrus canker caused byXanthomonas citri subs.citri, citrus variegated chlorosis caused byXylella fastidiosa, “huanglongbing” associated with the presence ofCandidatusliberibacter species, anthracnose caused byColletotrichum gloeosporioides and citrus black spot caused byPhyllosticta citricarpa, impose significant losses. Control measures involve chemical treatment of orchards but often, eradication of infected plants is unavoidable. To circumvent the environmental impacts of pesticides and the socio-economic impacts of eradication, innovative antimicrobial approaches like photodynamic inactivation are being tested. There is evidence of the susceptibility ofXanthomonas citri subs.citri andC. gloeosporioides to photodynamic damage. However, the realistic assessment of perspectives for widespread application of photodynamic inactivation in the control of citrus diseases, necessarily implies that other microorganisms are also considered. This review intends to provide a critical summary of the current state of research on photodynamic inactivation of citrus pathogens and to identify some of the current limitations to the widespread use of photodynamic treatments in citrus crops.
Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research