Bacterial diversity analysis of Huanglongbing pathogen-infected citrus, using PhyloChip arrays and 16S rRNA gene clone library sequencing.

TitleBacterial diversity analysis of Huanglongbing pathogen-infected citrus, using PhyloChip arrays and 16S rRNA gene clone library sequencing.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsSagaram U S, Deangelis KM, Trivedi P, Andersen GL, Lu S-E, Wang N
JournalAppl Environ Microbiol
Volume75
Issue6
Pagination1566-74
Date Published2009 Mar
ISSN1098-5336
KeywordsBacteria, Biodiversity, Citrus, DNA, Bacterial, DNA, Ribosomal, Genes, rRNA, Microarray Analysis, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Plant Diseases, Plant Leaves, Rhizobiaceae, RNA, Bacterial, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Abstract

The bacterial diversity associated with citrus leaf midribs was characterized for citrus groves that contained the Huanglongbing (HLB) pathogen, which has yet to be cultivated in vitro. We employed a combination of high-density phylogenetic 16S rRNA gene microarrays and 16S rRNA gene clone library sequencing to determine the microbial community composition for symptomatic and asymptomatic citrus midribs. Our results revealed that citrus leaf midribs can support a diversity of microbes. PhyloChip analysis indicated that 47 orders of bacteria in 15 phyla were present in the citrus leaf midribs, while 20 orders in 8 phyla were observed with the cloning and sequencing method. PhyloChip arrays indicated that nine taxa were significantly more abundant in symptomatic midribs than in asymptomatic midribs. "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" was detected at a very low level in asymptomatic plants but was over 200 times more abundant in symptomatic plants. The PhyloChip analysis results were further verified by sequencing 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, which indicated the dominance of "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" in symptomatic leaves. These data implicate "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" as the pathogen responsible for HLB disease.

DOI10.1128/AEM.02404-08
Alternate JournalAppl. Environ. Microbiol.
PubMed ID19151177