Delaying Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus infection of citrus trees through use of individual protective covers and systemic delivery of oxytetracycline

This study presents the first evaluation of an integrated HLB management strategy combining the use of IPCs for early protection of young citrus trees and trunk injection of OTC for post-IPC infection therapy. A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experimental design evaluated the effects of infection history (early vs. late infection), rootstock cultivar, and OTC injection treatment on tree responses over two consecutive production seasons. Fibrous root microbiome analyses based on 16S rRNA sequencing revealed no significant effects of OTC injection on bacterial alpha or beta diversity, with stable community structure observed across treatments and time points.