Year 2: A screen of nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides for control of the HLB bacterium in citrus

In year 2 of this project, we expect to identify a set of plant-derived, antimicrobial peptides with killing activity against CLas in citrus trees and/or the citrus greening disease insect vector. Application of multiple antimicrobial peptides with different modes of action will limit the likelihood of resistance. These plant-derived antimicrobial peptides have been shown to inhibit the growth of a diverse range of bacterial pathogens, and thus, the peptides we screen may also be effective at killing other bacterial species threatening the California citrus industry, such as Spiroplasma citri, the phloem-limited bacterium that causes citrus stubborn disease.