Grant Information
Objective 1. Our preliminary data indicates that the virus can be detected in ACP at relatively high titers. We will focus our transmission study in part on major citrus-feeding insects, such as ACP and leafhopper, and determine the virus¿ host range by graft and dodder transmission. We will use electron microscopy to illustrate how both the virus and Las bacteria co-exist in a phloem cell and how the virus attenuates the phloem cell destruction caused by Las. Objective 2. The systemic distribution of NMV-M/CFL will be evaluated among different varieties. We will expand the screening to all important commercial citrus varieties to provide more virus and host combinations for field trials. We will further conduct a small-scale field trial of new planting or grafting NMV-M to HLB-affected plants at the USHRL Picos farm to evaluate the prevention and/or revitalization of HLB-affected plants.