Biotech Updates

DNA Genome of New Strain of Citrus Greening Could Help Find Cure

December 18, 2013

Plant bacteriology specialist Dean Gabriel from the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has mapped the genome of a new strain of citrus greening discovered in Brazil. Gabriel said that with the "roadmap" of the bacteria genome, they will be certain there are no surprises in the Brazilian species, which has now been found in Texas. The mapping should also guide them to improve control methods, and find more usable genes and treatments. Although there is no known cure for citrus greening, the genetic information will guide researchers into finding one.

Gabriel's team's work will be outlined in a research paper to be published in February in the journal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction. For more information, read the UF/IFAS news release available at http://news.ufl.edu/2013/12/12/greening-map/.