Premium
Feeding behavior of D iaphorina citri and its transmission of ‘ C andidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ to citrus
Author(s) -
Wu Tianyu,
Luo Xiaozhu,
Xu Changbao,
Wu Fengnian,
Qureshi Jawwad A.,
Cen Yijing
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/eea.12496
Subject(s) - biology , inoculation , phloem , diaphorina citri , pathogen , vector (molecular biology) , citrus × sinensis , horticulture , transmission (telecommunications) , pest analysis , host (biology) , veterinary medicine , botany , orange (colour) , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , hemiptera , medicine , biochemistry , electrical engineering , engineering , gene , recombinant dna
Huanglongbing ( HLB ), also known as citrus greening, is currently the most destructive disease of citrus, responsible for huge economic losses in the world's major citrus production areas. The Asian citrus psyllid, D iaphorina citri K uwayama ( H emiptera: L iviidae), transmits ‘ C andidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ ( C las), the pathogen responsible to cause HLB . Understanding of vector, pathogen, and host plant interactions is important for the management of this vector‐disease complex. We used the direct‐current electrical penetration graph ( DC ‐ EPG ) system to evaluate feeding behavior of C las‐infected D . citri adults, and their potential to transmit the pathogen to healthy citrus, C itrus reticulata Blanco cv. Sunki ( R utaceae), following a 24‐h inoculation access period. Plants were tested for the presence of C las by qPCR 6 months after inoculation. Findings suggest that inoculation was associated with salivation into the phloem sieve elements (waveform E1). The minimum feeding time for successful transmission by a single adult was 88.8 min, with a minimum E1 duration of 5.1 min. Regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between E1 duration and transmission efficiency. The adults successful in transmitting C las to healthy citrus were able to penetrate and feed in the phloem much earlier than those which did not transmit. The minimum duration of E1 for a female was shorter than that of a male, but transmission was higher. However, durations of other EPG parameters were not significantly different between male and female. Feeding by single C las‐infected D . citri adults on 6‐month‐old plants (Sunki) resulted in 23% HLB ‐positive plants 6 months after inoculation. Multiple nymphs or adults could transmit the pathogen more efficiently than individual adults in the field, and further enhance the severity of the disease. Effective tactics are warranted to control D . citri and disrupt transmission of C las.