Citrus Greening (Huanglongbing): Fast Electrochemical Detection and Phytomonitoring of the Trees Diseases

Abstract

Citrus greening is probably the most important disease of citrus in the world. Here we show that citrus greening infection induces a very strong decrease in the amplitude of the electrical potential difference in a citrus tree tissue or in a fruit. The non-disruptive method, consisting of a data acquisition system interfaced with computer and identical nonpolarizable reversible electrodes connected to trees, was used for the measuring of electrical potentials and the detection of citrus greening in a tree’s tissue. The amplitude and time dependence of a registered electrical potential difference in a leaf, stem or fruit is sensitive to a tree’s health. Infected trees have a very low DC signal in comparison with healthy citrus trees. This electrophysiological method permits fast detection of citrus greening in citrus trees and can be used for a detection of other diseases in plants and trees. Monitoring the electrical signaling in higher plants represents a promising method to investigate fast electrical communication during environmental changes.