The main pathogen underlying citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), a citrus fruit disease, is Xylella fastidiosa, a Gram‐negative s‐shaped bacterium that blocks water and nutrient circulation. Discovering new pesticides to combat CVC have become a challenge. Research into essential oils (EOs) is crucial because these substances can be potentially useful in pest control. This study aims to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), to investigate biofilm inhibition capacities through MBIC50 analysis, and to evaluate synergistic effects with streptomycin of 17 EOs against X. fastidiosa. This study also analyses the chemical profiles of the EOs that provided the best antibacterial activity results. The MIC values of the EOs ranged from 125 to 1,000 µg/ml. Analysis of the MICB50 values of the sandalwood and patchouli EOs revealed biofilm inhibitory activity. No synergistic effects were evident for streptomycin combined with the sandalwood or patchouli EOs: ΣFIC was 1.25 and 1.5, respectively, which denoted indifference. We detected α‐gurjunene (27.6%), patchouli alcohol (21.6%), α‐bulsene (17.3%) and α‐patchoulene (6.3%) as the major patchouli EO constituents. On the basis of our results, the sandalwood and patchouli EOs present antibacterial action and are promising natural sources for the development of new pesticides against X. fastidiosa.
Rationale
Xylella fastidiosa causes citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) in sweet orange trees. A diagnostic method for detecting CVC before the symptoms appear, which would inform citrus producers in advance about when the plant should be removed from the orchard, is essential for reducing pesticide application costs.
Methods
Chemometrics was applied to high‐performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD) data to evaluate the similarities and differences between the chromatographic profiles. A liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry selected reaction monitoring (LC/APCI‐MS‐SRM) method was developed to identify the major compounds and to determine their amounts in all samples.
Results
We evaluated the effect of this bacterium on the variation in the chemical profile in citrus plants. The organs of C. sinensis grafted on C. limonia were analyzed. Chemometrics was applied to the obtained data, and two major groups were differentiated. Flavonoids were observed in one group (leaves) and coumarins in the second (roots), both at higher concentrations in the plants with CVC symptoms than in those without the symptoms and those in the negative control. The rootstocks also interfered in the metabolism of the scion.
Conclusions
The developed LC/APCI‐MS‐SRM method for detecting CVC before the symptoms appear is simple and accurate. It is inexpensive, and many samples can be screened per hour using 1 mg of leaves. Knowledge of the influence of the rootstock on the chemical profile of the graft is limited. This study demonstrates the effect of the rootstock in synthesizing flavonoids and increasing its content in all parts of the graft.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.