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Characterization of Huanglongbing disease associated with acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in Oman

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Abstract

Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most destructive diseases of Citrus. This study was conducted to characterize its etiological agent, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp., as well as the occurrence and distribution of HLB associated with acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in Oman. A survey of different geographical areas in Oman has shown that HLB is present in some farms in the northern and southern parts of the country. Disease incidence was 71.8% in the surveyed lime trees with typical symptoms of HLB in Sohar and Wkaan, 40% in Al Jabal Al Akhdar and 62% in Salalah. Disease symptoms in some areas were observed all year round, but were more apparent from October to March. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16SrRNA gene of 38 isolates indicated an association of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Las) with HLB-symptomatic acid lime trees. The analysis showed that Omani isolates clustered with isolates from Iran, India, USA and China. No ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp. were detected in nursery seedlings imported from abroad. This study reports for the first time the association of HLB with acid lime in Oman. Extension programs and strict quarantine measures should be applied to help reduce the international spread of HLB.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Sultan Qaboos University, Vale Oman and Vale Technological Institute for funding the study through the projects SR/AGR/CROP/13/01 and EG/AGR/CROP/12/01,02.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box-34, 123, Muscst, Al-Khod, Oman

    Ahmed Al Fahdi, Muhammad S. Shahid, Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura & Abdullah M. Al-Sadi

  2. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, Barka, Oman

    Alghaliya Al-Mamari

  3. Department of Plant Pathology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Avenida PH Rolfs s/n, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil

    Claudine M. Carvalho

  4. Department of Entomology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Avenida PH Rolfs s/n, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil

    Simon L. Elliot

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  1. Ahmed Al Fahdi
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  2. Alghaliya Al-Mamari
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  3. Muhammad S. Shahid
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  4. Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura
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  5. Claudine M. Carvalho
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  6. Simon L. Elliot
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  7. Abdullah M. Al-Sadi
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Correspondence to Abdullah M. Al-Sadi.

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Al Fahdi, A., Al-Mamari, A., Shahid, M.S. et al. Characterization of Huanglongbing disease associated with acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in Oman. J Plant Pathol 100, 419–427 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-018-0088-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-018-0088-9

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