Huanglongbing in Bangladesh: A Pilot Study for Disease Incidence, Pathogen Detection, and its Genetic Diversity

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is the most serious disease affecting production in Asia, Africa, Americas, and Arabian Peninsula. HLB associated with α-Proteobacteria “CandidatusLiberibacter asiaticus” (CLas), “Ca. L. africanus” (CLaf), americanus” (CLam). The Bangladesh industry comprises mandarins, sweet oranges, pummelos, limes, lemons. In 2017-2018, a survey was conducted for two consecutive years 18 orange growing areas of Bangladesh, presence CLas these confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. incidence severity were assessed based on leaf symptoms. results unveiled widespread prevalence ranging between 0.08 56% 1.80 28.33. Information genetic diversity Bangladeshi isolates obtained or absence Type 1 (SC1, NC_019549.1) 2 (SC2, NC_019550.1) prophages. silico phylogenetic analyses prophage sequences showed four three clusters isolates, respectively. Combined prophages indicated existence isolates. found to harbor multiple copies analysis revealed different distributed areas, indicating spread through propagated materials.&nbsp