Effect of Growing Media pH on Performance of Huanglongbing-Affected Young Citrus Trees

Since the advent of Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, Florida’s citrus production has dropped by 70%. HLB-affected trees decline rapidly under high pH growing conditions. Limited nutrient availability at soil been speculated to be cause such rapid in trees; however, is not observed healthy trees. Therefore, objective this study was understand uptake, physiological, and molecular responses (HLY) sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) when grown media maintained different levels 6.0, 7.0, or 8.0. Overall, performance HLY HLB decreased with increase showed a significant inverse correlation between growth parameters (leaf number, shoot growth, SPAD value, stem water potential) whereas no for Interesting, superior 6.0 coincided higher accumulation Fe, Mn, N whole plant body as compared treatments. In contrast, tree significantly better 7.0 other At stress related genes were upregulated leaves leaves, indicating response terms leaf abscission, reduced natural aging process exacerbated Altogether, all physiological observations supports an interaction pH, where perform than pH.