Enhancing Citrus Resistance against Huanglongbing using Plant Activators and Copper Acetate

Citrus greening (Huanglongbing or HLB) is one of the most destructive citrus diseases. It is caused by the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter spp. and is difficult to control. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of plant activators (Benzoic acid, Citric acid, Calcium chloride dihydrate, Di-Potassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HPO4), Potassium Di Hydrogen Phosphate KH2PO4, Salicylic acid) and copper acetate against the citrus greening. For this purpose, one-year-old citrus plants of a susceptible variety were collected from citrus research institute Sargodha (CRI) and planted (under RCBD) in the research field area of the department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. All plant activators and copper acetate were applied at three concentrations (0.5, 0.75, and 1%) and inoculum of citrus HLB was applied after one day after application of activators and copper acetate. Among all plant activators and copper acetate, salicylic acid expressed the most significant results at all concentrations against greening disease. So, it is concluded that the application of salicylic acid is a meaningful control strategy against citrus greening.