A review of techniques for detecting Huanglongbing (greening) in citrus

Abstract Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive disease of citrus worldwide. Monitoring of health and detection of diseases in trees is critical for sustainable agriculture. HLB symptoms are virtually the same wherever the disease occurs. The disease is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter, vectored by the psyllids Diaphorina citri Kuwayama and Trioza erytreae. Electron microscopic technique was the first method for HLB detection. Nowadays, scientists are working on the development of new techniques for a rapid HLB detection as there is no sensor commercially accessible for real-time assessment of health conditions in trees. Currently, exploration is the most widely used mechanism for monitoring HLB, which is an expensive, labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction are used for the identification of HLB disease, which requires detailed sampling and processing procedures. Furthermore, investigations are ongoing in spectroscopic and imaging techniques, profiling of plant volatile organic compounds and isothermal amplification. This study recognizes the need for developing a rapid, cost-effective, and reliable health monitoring sensor that would facilitate advancements in HLB disease detection. This paper compares the benefits and limitations of these potential methods for HLB detection.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author