Keywords

citrus greening, Huanglongbing, nanoparticle, ACP

Abstract

Huanglongbing is a citrus disease devastating the worldwide citrus industry. It is caused by the pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), and spread through the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). ACP vectors HLB as a host for CLas and spreads the bacteria through the saliva when feeding on citrus leaves. There is no cure for the disease, making preventative measures a top priority for the citrus industry. Previously used methods such as individual protective covers and insecticides have proven effective but costly to slow the spread of the disease. In this thesis, we report on the interactions of a novel zinc-borate spray-on material, referred to as Galvoxite. Once sprayed, Galvoxite, will create a protective layer on the leaves impeding the ACP from feeding. This is expected to inhibit the spread of CLas. In this work, we track the location and accumulation of Galvoxite on the leaf surface. It is hypothesized that Galvoxite will create an even film over the entire leaf when sprayed. We blended a fluorescent Ru dye with a long-excited state lifetime into the Galvoxite to determine the specific interactions with the leaf surface. Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) were used to measure the excited state lifetime of the Galvoxite with the presence of the Ru dye and locate it on the leaf surface. Our data suggests that Galvoxite preferentially accumulates around the stomata, while the Ru dye remains in the regions on the leaf surface between stomata. This was confirmed with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, where zinc-rich regions were found to be adjacent to Ru-rich regions. The results display the potential of Galvoxite being used to hinder ACP from spreading CLas.

Completion Date

2024

Semester

Fall

Committee Chair

Gesquiere, Andre

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Graduate Studies

Department

NanoScience Technology Center

Degree Program

Nanotechnology

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0028988

Language

English

Release Date

12-15-2024

Access Status

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Accessibility Status

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