In May, Tanishka Aglave, a student at Strawberry Crest High School received the $10,000 H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research at the Society for Science’s 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Six other students also received honors.
The Society for Science awarded Tanishka this prize because of her research to attempt to find a natural alternative treatment for citrus greening. She injected diseased trees with an extract from the curry leaf tree. The Plant City Observer asked the young scientist questions about her research.
Why did you pursue this research?
Since a young age, I have grown up on a citrus farm, first-hand witnessing the citrus greening disease’s devastating impact on farmers’ crop yields. Over the past two decades, this disease has devastated the Florida citrus industry, resulting in a nearly 93% decline in overall production with no viable solution. Observing the struggles of farmers with current treatments, I wanted to develop an eco-friendly and sustainable strategy for citrus greening disease through the development of a novel, biological bactericide, and three-dimensional (3-D) printed modifications to commercial trunk injection syringes to optimize treatment delivery. This could effectively manage the disease, serving as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic antibiotics, and help farmers achieve long-term sustainability in citrus production.
Why did you use curry leaf plant?
The Indian curry leaf plant, Murraya koenigii, is a member of the same plant family as Citrus (Rutaceae) and is highly attractive to the insect vector of the disease bacteria. According to scientific literature, upon feeding on the shoot systems of the plant, the vector Asian Citrus Psyllid, (a sap-sucking invasive species), becomes non-infective. This novel phenomenon suggests that Murraya koenigii may acquire immunity to the greening bacteria due to its antibacterial properties.
How did you develop the extract?
I used the methanol extraction and steam distillation process to create the extract, and standardized its dilution ratio in water to develop a novel bactericide formulation.
What is promising about the results?
In order to validate my findings, I evaluated various parameters, including lab-based data collection through real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), as well as extensive qualitative assessments. In accordance with the qualitative assessments, the treatment was able to serve a dual purpose by managing more than 63% of the disease severity in young trees and yielding an increase in plant vigor. Moreover, both the industry standard treatment and the biological bactericide exhibited equivalent efficacy in increasing the chlorophyll content. The qPCR results indicated that the treatment was effective in managing the disease also on the genomic level. These promising results prove that a biological alternative/solution can emerge for citrus greening that is pivotal for preventative care, and long-term sustainability of the citrus industry.
Will you pursue this path of research any farther?
Yes. I would like to continue this research in the upcoming two years to develop more strategies for citrus greening disease management, as well as detection. I would like to conduct trials in the grower’s field for the bactericide formulation and trunk injection syringe to make further improvements in my research.
What did you enjoy about your research?
A portion I truly enjoyed about my research was the abundance of learning involved in taking an interdisciplinary approach to execute my research idea. When I thought of the concept of 3-D printing to modify trunk injection syringes, I was really intrigued by the process of making prototypes and designing and testing each prototype on young trees. Moreover, while literature review can be extensive, it is often my favorite part, as I find it enjoyable to learn about the field.
What do you like about science?
One of the aspects I like most about science is the inherent uncertainty of exploring ideas. Science is a field that is interconnected in a multitude of ways, and sometimes the exploration of a concept can lead one unexpectedly to an interlinked phenomenon. Initially, the separate components can appear confusing; however, it is a highly fulfilling and astonishing feeling when all the pieces of your work fit in together. Therefore, I deeply resonate with the evolving process of science in which curiosity can advance one’s knowledge and perspective in a transformative manner.
How have programs at Strawberry Crest encouraged you and helped you in science?
I am actively a part of numerous clubs at Strawberry Crest such as Science Olympiad and Science Competitors, which helped build my scientific knowledge foundation. Aside from them, many of my teachers, including my biology teacher and my inquiry skills teacher, have consistently and substantially supported me in pursuing my research.
What are your future plans?
I would like to continue working on this research project, communicate my findings with farmers and agencies, spread awareness on what farmers can do to manage this disease, and become a plant scientist when I grow up.
Do you have any additional comments?
I am highly thankful to everyone who has supported me or helped me throughout my project journey including my family, friends, teachers, research mentors, and labs. Without them, this would not have been possible.