Liberibacter

[3] Liberibacter is transmitted by two insects from Psyllidae family – Diaphorina citri in Asia, Brazil and Florida, and Trioza erytreae in Africa.

[3] Species of Liberibacter, infecting solanaceous plants has been identified and it was carried by another psyllid, a potato pest Bactericera cockerelli.

Liberibacter activates salicylic acid pathway in host, likely due to recognition of extracellular molecules such as lipopolyscacharides or flagella.

Liberibacteria were shown to affect the spread of vector, by influencing the flight frequencies and sexual attraction of D. citri.

Antimicrobial treatment can suppress Liberibacter species,[10] however usage of broad spectrum antibiotics is inadvisable due to adverse environmental effects.

Another suggested alternatives include the use of compounds that alleviate disease symptoms and boost plants defense systems[11] or reinforcing natural citrus microbiota in order to compete with Liberibacter species.