Risk Evaluation and Molecular Characterisation of AtNPR1 Transgenic Citrus Lines Tolerant to Citrus Greening Disease.

ABSTRACT: Citrus greening disease, or Huanglongbing (HLB), has caused devastating losses to citrus production in Florida, with yields declining by over 90% since 2005. Despite extensive efforts, no sustainable solution has been widely effective. Here, transgenic 'Hamlin' sweet orange lines engineered to constitutively express the Arabidopsis NPR1 (AtNPR1) gene, a key regulator of systemic acquired resistance, are evaluated for health and environmental risks. These citrus lines exhibit strong HLB tolerance, with reduced disease symptoms, sustained fruit production, and no apparent negative phenotypic abnormalities. Comprehensive risk assessment reveals minimal exposure, health, or environmental risk. The AtNPR1 protein is: (1) barely detectable in fruit, (2) rapidly degraded in simulated gastrointest

SUBMITTER: Glusberger PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12946480 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature