The Tropical Fruit Forum
Citrus => Citrus General Discussion => Topic started by: Millet on May 18, 2021, 10:47:59 AM
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The naturally occurring peptide is found in HLB-tolerant citrus relatives, such as the Australian finger lime. The peptide has dual functions of inhibiting Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) growth in HLB-positive trees and activating host immunity to prevent new infections. Jin said it is rare for a treatment to achieve both of these functions. According to scientist the peptide’s corkscrew-like helix structure is able to quickly puncture the CLas bacterium, causing it to die typically within half an hour.
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Finger lime as inter-stock?
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I have never thought about this before, but how does a plant exhibit its host immunity? Animals have T-cells, antibodies and utilize metabolic approaches such as fever, mucous secretions and such. What systems do plants have to ward off infections?
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I don't know the mechanisms, but plants certainly produce various chemicals,
anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti viral, insecticides, feeding inhibitors, even outright toxins and poisons.
Many of these have long been extracted by us as medicines spices, or horticulture treatments.
I think there is some evidence that plants can link up via roots and send chemical messages to each other re pest attack.
If these finger lime extracts prove successful against HLB, I hope it sets a trend for further research along these lines.
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I had forgotten about all that. I recently heard a book review for Finding the Mother Tree about how trees communicate with each other and even support the growth of neighboring trees. I also recall hearing of studies that show when a particular tree is attacked by insects, other trees nearby ramp up production of chemicals to ward off a similar infestation. The production f these chemicals is metabolically expensive so trees don't produce them until necessary.
It's an amazing world we inhabit. Humans exhibit a lot of hubris in our treatment of the natural world.
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What I am seriously wondering is: How close to commercial and (especially) residential testing of any of these new treatments for HLB are things getting? Anyone heard anything toward this end?
I sure would like to try one of these new treatment options on some of my young citrus cultivars here in Tampa.
Fingers X-ed!
Paul M.
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https://www.pnas.org/content/118/6/e2019628118/tab-figures-data (https://www.pnas.org/content/118/6/e2019628118/tab-figures-data)
Heres another research article on this. I currently actually just gave a presentation on this for one of my graduate classes. Very interesting and cool stuff.. very recent data.
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Which finger lime type could be utilized best and what about eremocitrus?