Enhancing agrochemical delivery in citrus leaves with geraniol: a promising strategy for controlling huanglongbing (HLB)

Abstract BACKGROUND Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease in citrus, caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), which primarily resides in the phloem where chemicals cannot effectively reach, posing a significant challenge in controlling HLB. To address these challenges, plant essential oils (EOs), widely used as transdermal enhancers and known for their benefits for plant tissues, were investigated for their potential to enhance chemical permeation. RESULTS In this study, seven EOs – eugenol, carvacrol, eucalyptol, geraniol, linalool, cinnamaldehyde, and d ‐limonene – were evaluated for their potential to enhance chemical penetration into citrus leaves. Preliminary screening with tracer methods revealed that geraniol provided the greatest enhancement of permeation, achieving the deepest and broadest distribution into the spongy tissue of the citrus leaf. The permeation levels of rhodamine B and crystal violet through the cuticular layer were elevated from 0.55 mg L −1 and 0.11 mg L −1 to 20.04 mg L −1 and 7.14 mg L −1 , respectively, by the addition of geraniol. Further validation through high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS) confirmed that the penetration of fludioxonil and tetracycline into citrus leaf tissues was enhanced by 15.07‐fold and 20.43‐fold, respectively. In planta experiments confirmed that adding geraniol to tetracycline and oxytetracycline via foliar application eliminated CLas bacteria in HLB‐affected citrus more efficiently than controls. CONCLUSION Our study underscores the potential of geraniol as an effective EO‐based permeation enhancer for combating HLB. By significantly improving the delivery and efficacy of bactericidal treatments, geraniol offers a promising strategy for managing this catastrophic citrus disease, potentially transforming the approach to controlling HLB. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.