Using genome editing to develop HLB-resistant or -tolerant citrus

Dec 6, 2017

Figure from Ma et al. Research Snapshot. https://berkeley.box.com/shared/static/r34uyy7q3bo0faqm4s5igeckaxfhaoqg.pdf
Research by Drs. Wenbo Ma, Gitta Coaker, Nian Wang, Veronica Ancona and Georgios Vidalakis (lead PI: University of California, Riverside)

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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About Research Snapshots

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.