At the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the breeding program used native Australian citrus species (C. australasica, C. australis, C. garrawayi, and C. inodora), collectively referred to as Microcitrus, and cultivated Citrus. Commencing in 1998, this program aimed to introduce desirable Microcitrus traits into cultivated citrus, resulting in hybrids with pedigrees ranging from 12.5% to 100% Microcitrus. Previous studies suggest that specific Microcitrus accessions may exhibit resistance to huanglongbing (HLB), a disease associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). To assess this resistance, we conducted tests on these Microcitrus-derived seedlings in a Florida field site where HLB and its vector, the Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri; ACP), are prevalent. Seeds were received in August 2015 and grown into field-ready seedling trees at the USHRL greenhouse. In August 2018, these trees were planted in a randomized layout at the Fort Pierce USDA grove, comprising 53 Microcitrus-derived populations alongside grafted Clementine and Hamlin standards. During 2020 and 2021, a subset of these plants underwent 24 assessments for ACP colonization, focusing on periods of abundant citrus flush and active D. citri presence. Data collected included observations of eggs, nymphs, and 5th instars, indicating D. citri's ability to complete development on the plant. Statistical analysis assessed variations in egg and nymph abundances concerning scion and date, revealing differing nymph counts across dates and scion types, with Hamlin and Arrufatina X 09Q048 displaying the highest nymph counts. Additionally, all trees were evaluated for CLas levels in October 2021 and no significant differences were found. The study encompassed seedling development, field planting, and standard citrus production practices, with minimal pesticide usage to determine the tolerance of Australian-derived hybrids to HLB.
