Antisense Oligonucleotide as a New Technology Application for Gene Silencing Aiming at Citrus Canker Resistance.

Citrus canker disease, caused by subsp. , poses a significant threat to global citrus production. The control of the disease in the field relies mainly on the use of conventional tools such as copper compounds, which are harmful to the environment and could lead to bacterial resistance.

The Expansin Gene Is a Direct Target of CsLOB1 in Citrus.

Transcription activator-like effectors are key virulence factors of . They are secreted into host plant cells and mimic transcription factors inducing the expression of host susceptibility (S) genes. In citrus, is a direct target of PthA4, the primary effector associated with citrus canker symptoms.

MqsR toxin as a biotechnological tool for plant pathogen bacterial control.

Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread in bacteria and are involved in important cell features, such as cell growth inhibition and antimicrobial tolerance, through the induction of persister cells. Overall, these characteristics are associated with bacterial survival under stress conditions and represent a significant genetic mechanism to be explored for antibacterial molecules. We verified that even though Xylella fastidiosa and Xanthomonas citri subsp.

Overexpression of in Leads to a Priming Effect of Cells to Copper Stress Tolerance.

Copper-based compounds are widely used in agriculture as a chemical strategy to limit the spread of multiple plant diseases; however, the continuous use of this heavy metal has caused environmental damage as well as the development of copper-resistant strains. Thus, it is important to understand how the bacterial phytopathogens evolve to manage with this metal in the field. The MqsRA Toxin-Antitoxin system has been recently described for its function in biofilm formation and copper tolerance in , a plant-pathogen bacterium responsible for economic damage in several crops worldwide.