Scientists are studying the interaction between citrus trees and the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) associated with huanglongbing (HLB) at the molecular level. In particular, they are investigating how CLas interacts with citrus proteins to cause disease, hoping to disrupt this interaction and ultimately develop new resistant or tolerant varieties using a genome-editing technology called CRISPR/Cas.

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We have developed short, descriptions of research projects that aim to help in the fight against HLB. These projects include traditional breeding and genetic engineering to create resistant citrus varieties, psyllid modification, using other organisms to deliver HLB-resistance genes, and early detection of the bacterium in trees.