Canine Olfactory Detection of a Non-Systemic Phytobacterial Citrus Pathogen of International Quarantine Significance.

For millennia humans have benefitted from application of the acute canine sense of smell to hunt, track and find targets of importance. In this report, canines were evaluated for their ability to detect the severe exotic phytobacterial arboreal pathogen pv. (Xcc), which is the causal agent of Asiatic citrus canker (Acc).

Canine olfactory detection of a vectored phytobacterial pathogen, Liberibacter asiaticus, and integration with disease control.

Early detection and rapid response are crucial to avoid severe epidemics of exotic pathogens. However, most detection methods (molecular, serological, chemical) are logistically limited for large-scale survey of outbreaks due to intrinsic sampling issues and laboratory throughput. Evaluation of 10 canines trained for detection of a severe exotic phytobacterial arboreal pathogen, Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), demonstrated 0.

Comparison of FTIR spectra between Huanglongbing (citrus greening) and other citrus maladies.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has the ability to quickly identify the presence of specific carbohydrates in plant materials. The presence of the disease huanglongbing (HLB) in the leaves of infected citrus plants has a distinctive spectrum that can be used to distinguish an infected plant from a healthy plant. However, many citrus diseases display similar visible symptoms and are of concern to citrus growers.

Detection of citrus Huanglongbing by Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy.

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening disease) was discovered in Florida in 2005 and is spreading rapidly amongst the citrus growing regions of the state. Detection via visual symptoms of the disease is not a long-term viable option. New techniques are being developed to test for the disease in its earlier presymptomatic stages.