Genetic tools and strategies for citrus breeding aiming at resistant rootstocks to gummosis disease

Abstract

Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan (syn. Phytophthora parasitica Dastur), causal agent of citrus gummosis disease, has caused great damage to citrus orchards throughout the world. While chemical and horticultural measures do not guarantee the preventive or curative control of citrus gummosis, the use of resistant rootstocks is the most reliable management strategy against the disease. Aiming at the development of citrus rootstocks resistant to gummosis and to better elucidate the Phytophthora-citrus pathosystem, citrus breeding programs have been ongoing worldwide, mostly employing directed crosses. These studies have succeeded in identifying differences in symptom development between resistant and susceptible rootstocks, as well as in the progeny of their crosses. In addition, differentially expressed genes were assessed, which ultimately should lead to the identification of markers involved in resistance to P. nicotianae. In this review we summarize the current knowledge of the molecular basis of citrus gummosis and the main strategies employed to obtain genetically resistant rootstocks.

Transcriptome profile of Carrizo citrange roots in response toPhytophthora parasiticainfection

“…Genetic resistance among wild and cultivated plants against wide variety of phytopathogens are the best resources that can be utilized to develop the most economical and environmentally friendly strategies to fight against Phytophthora diseases. In citrus, resistance rootstocks are excellent breeding material for developing Phytophthora resistant citrus trees with high quality fruits (Lima et al 2018). Few rootstocks like Carrizo citrange, Swingle citrumelo and P. trifoliata have been reported to be tolerant to P. parasitica infection except in disease complexes (Hutchison 1974;Graham 1996;Graham et al 2003;Dalio et al 2018).…”

Transcriptome profile of Carrizo citrange roots in response toPhytophthora parasiticainfection

“…Genetic resistance among wild and cultivated plants against wide variety of phytopathogens are the best resources that can be utilized to develop the most economical and environmentally friendly strategies to fight against Phytophthora diseases. In citrus, resistance rootstocks are excellent breeding material for developing Phytophthora resistant citrus trees with high quality fruits (Lima et al, 2018). Few rootstocks like Carrizo citrange, Swingle citrumelo and P. trifoliata have been reported to be tolerant to P.parasitica infection except in disease complexes (Dalio et al, 2017;Graham, 1995;Graham et al, 2003;Hutchison, 1974).…”