Induction of mutations in citrus for the development of resistance to Xanthomonas citri (Hasse) Dowson

With the aim of obtaining resistance to Xanthomonas citri in citrus, mutagenic treatment was carried out with X-rays and gamma rays on buds and seedlings. As a prerequisite, attempts were made to determine some physiological and structural differences in leaves in order to evaluate and analyse the reaction to the bacterium in qualitative and quantitative terms. Citrus were found to present 3-4 annual sproutings, each having a different intensity. Grapefruit showed a greater initial increase and final length than orange, but lemon growth was greater than all the others. According to their growth, leaves clustered in three groups. Those in the middle part of the sprout showed the greatest daily increase, followed in decreasing order by those of the base and those of the apex. In orange cultivars with different degrees of reaction to Xanthomonas citri a direct association between daily growth of leaves and susceptibility was found. In fully developed leaves the number of stomata per surface unit presented an inverse ratio with susceptibility. It was observed that in a given genotype the stomata frequency per surface unit was higher in young leaves than in developed ones. Also a direct association between the leaf area and the number of stomata per leaf was found. Natural field infections were measured in leaves of developed plants. Infection in each of the 3-4 annual sproutings depends on environmental factors during the growth period and the predisposition period of the leaves. The available variation for reaction to Xanthomonas citri was higher in oranges than in grapefruit. The abscission of each leaf depends on its degree of infection, but the cultivars classed as more resistant are those requiring a smaller affected area to provoke the leaf abscission. However, abscission of a leaf is independent of the fate of the neighbouring ones. The existence of a continuous grading of infection damage within the orange cultivars suggests a genetic component for resistance to Xanthomonas citri