Call for Abstracts

Researchers are invited to submit 1 to 4-page abstracts for the meeting (multiple abstracts allowed). Each abstract should be prepared for standard 8.5X11 inch US format paper, 12 pt ‘Times New Roman’ font, single-spaced, as a Microsoft Word document. Incorporation of figures, graphics, and citations within the document is acceptable and encouraged. Abstracts should comply with the following outline:

  • Abstract Title (in bold font)
  • Blank Line
  • Author(s) and affiliation(s) [Presenting author’s name should be indicated in bold type]
  • Blank Line
  • Body of Text
  • Blank Line
  • Citations

Example:
Spatial Distribution of Huanglongbing Symptomatic Trees in Citrus Groves in São Paulo, Brazil
Bassanezi, R.B.1, Busato, L.A.1, Bergamin Filho, A.2, Amorim, L.2, Gottwald, T.R.3 1Fundecitrus, Araraquara, Brazil; 2ESALQ/Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil; 3USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, USA

Huanglongbing (HLB) was reported in 2004 in São Paulo, Brazil and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Ca. L. americanus, were found associated with the disease with prevalence of the second species. The Asian psyllid vector of Ca. L. asiaticus, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, reached Brazil 60 years ago, is well established in São Paulo orchards, and is probably the main candidate of HLB-agent vector in Brazil. However, due to its recent report in Brazilian orchards, the transmission of Ca. Liberibacter ssp. by D. citri in Brazil is not yet confirmed and no data is available with regard to HLB spatial distribution in Brazil. Assessments of diseased trees by visual symptoms were made in 36 groves from 8 farms in the central citrus region of São Paulo State. 155 HLB spatial maps (varying from 0.14 to 25.99% of disease incidence) were analysed, considering quadrat sizes of 2x2, 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 trees, by ordinary runs analysis, binomial index of dispersion and binary form of Taylor’s power law. Aggregation among HLB-symptomatic trees was detected by ordinary runs analysis, with clustering existed in both within- and across-rows directions. However the percentage of aggregation within- and across-rows were low. The binomial index of dispersion for various quadrat sizes suggested aggregation of HLB-symptomatic trees for about 40% of the plots. The relationship between log(observed variance) and log(binomial variance) was highly significant for all four quadrat sizes. Estimated parameters of the binary form of Taylor’s power law provided an overall measure of aggregation of HLB-symptomatic trees for all quadrat sizes tested. All power law estimates of b and A, were statistically different from 1, which indicated a general and significant pattern of aggregation of symptomatic plants for all quadrat sizes tested. The degree of aggregation was also positively related to disease incidence. Data from 20 plots ranging in disease incidence were also analyzed by spatial autocorrelation to examine the association among groups of infected trees using the 2x2 quadrat size. In 14 of 20 cases, clusters of HLB-infected trees were found to be associated with secondary clusters whose centers were at distances ranging from 4.2 to 22.1 tree spaces distant, indicating psyllid vector movement resulting in transmission both to nearby trees causing clusters and to trees at considerable distance initiating new foci of infection.

Deadline for submission of Abstract Tiles: September 30, 2008. Please email abstracts titles to: Ms. Penny McCurry, mccurrp@doacs.state.fl.us by the May 1 deadline

Deadline for Full Abstracts: October 30, 2008. Please email all full abstracts to: Ms. Penny McCurry, mccurrp@doacs.state.fl.us Please indicate which of the main topic areas under which you would like the abstract to be considered.

Topic Areas:

  • Detection and Identification/Taxonomy
  • Diagnostics
  • Vectors biology/ecology
  • Epidemiology
  • Host/pathogen/vector interactions
  • Disease control/mitigation strategies (pathogen, vector, horticultural)
  • Host Plant Resistance (Breeding and Transgenics)
  • Sequencing and Bioinformatics
  • Culturing Liberibacter species

Abstracts will be compiled by category and published as Proceedings of the International Research Conference on HLB (IRCHLB). This will be made available as hard copies and CDs to Conference attendees and as a downloadable pdf document online at the IRCHLB Website following the meeting.

Important Note: Due to the finite duration of the conference, not all submissions can be considered for oral presentations. The Conference Coordinating Committee will select the presentations that will be requested as oral presentations. The balance of the abstracts will be assigned to associated poster sessions. Authors will be contacted by November 15, 2008 to inform them if their submission is requested as an oral presentation or poster.