Citrus photosynthesis and morphology acclimate to phloem-affecting huanglongbing disease at the leaf and shoot levels

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a phloem-affecting disease in citrus that reduces growth and impacts global citrus production. HLB is caused by a phloem-limited bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus). By inhibiting phloem function, HLB stunts sink growth, including the production of new shoots and leaves, and induces hyperaccumulation of foliar starch. HLB induces feedback inhibition of photosynthesis by reducing foliar carbohydrate export. Here, we assessed the relationship of bacterial distribution within the foliage, foliar starch accumulation, and net CO2 assimilation (A(net)). Because HLB impacts canopy morphology, we developed a chamber to measure whole-shoot A(net) to test the effects of HLB at both the leaf and shoot level. Whole-shoot level A(net) saturated at high irradiance, and green stems had high photosynthetic rates compared to leaves. Starch accumulation was correlated with bacterial population, and starch was negatively correlated with A(net) at the leaf but not at the shoot level. Starch increased initially after infection, then decreased progressively with increasing length of infection. HLB infection reduced A(net) at the leaf level but increased it at the whole-shoot level, in association with reduced leaf size and greater relative contribution of stems to the photosynthetic surface area. Although HLB-increased photosynthetic efficiency, total carbon fixed per shoot decreased because photosynthetic surface area was reduced. We conclude that the localized effects of infection on photosynthesis are mitigated by whole-shoot morphological acclimation over time. Stems contribute important proportions of whole-shoot A(net), and these contributions are likely increased by the morphological acclimation induced by HLB.

Automated summary

This study assessed the effects of Huanglongbing (HLB) on citrus photosynthesis. It was found that HLB infection led to reduced leaf size and photosynthetic surface area of citrus trees, but increased photosynthetic efficiency at the whole-shoot level. Although photosynthesis at the leaf level was weakened, it was enhanced at the whole-shoot level. Stems played an important role in the whole-shoot photosynthesis of citrus trees.