Project Number: 6618-22000-030-25
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 08, 2008
End Date: Jun 18, 2013

Objective:
This collaboration between ARS and Morflora,LLC, a private company, endeavors to develop an effective and economically feasible method for management of Huanglongbing, and the reduction of Asian citrus psyllid to protect citrus production within the USA. Lab and field studies at multiple locations will be used with collaborating citrus growers to evaluate potential solutions to HLB.

Approach:
A novel virus platform has been developed which permits the expression of plant or insect genes such that gene expression in the target organism may be up or down regulated to improve natural defensive systems to disease and/or to facilitate disruption of normal biological pathways specific to the disease or insect pest organism.