Guava leaf volatiles and dimethyl disulphide inhibit response of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama to host plant volatiles

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vectors the causal pathogen of huanglongbing (HLB), which is likely the most important disease affecting worldwide citrus production. Interplanting citrus with guava, Psidium guajava L., was reported to reduce D. citri populations and incidence of HLB. We describe a series of investigations on the response of D. citri to citrus volatiles with and without guava leaf volatiles and to synthetic dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), in laboratory olfactometers and in the field. Volatiles from guava leaves significantly inhibited attraction of D. citri to normally attractive host‐plant (citrus) volatiles. A similar level of inhibition was recorded when synthetic DMDS was co‐released with volatiles from citrus leaves. In addition, the volatile mixture emanating from a combination of intact citrus and intact guava leaves induced a knock‐down effect on adult D. citri. Compounds similar to DMDS including dipropyl disulphide, ethyl‐1‐propyl disulphide, and diethyl disulphide did not affect the behavioural response of D. citri to attractive citrus host plant volatiles. Head‐space volatile analyses were conducted to compare sulphur volatile profiles of citrus and guava, used in our behavioural assays, with a gas chromatography‐pulsed flame photometric detector. DMDS, produced by wounded guava in our olfactometer assays, was not produced by similarly wounded citrus. The airborne concentration of DMDS that induced the behavioural effect in the 4‐choice olfactometer was 107 pg/ml. In a small plot field experiment, populations of D. citri were significantly reduced by deployment of synthetic DMDS from polyethylene vials compared with untreated control plots. Our results verify that guava leaf volatiles inhibit the response of D. citri to citrus host plant volatiles and suggest that the induced compound, DMDS, may be partially responsible for this effect. Also, we show that field deployment of DMDS reduces densities of D. citri and thus may have potential as a novel control strategy.     

Enhanced proliferation and efficient transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus by adult Diaphorina citri after acquisition feeding in the nymphal stage

We carried out a quantitative detection of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the bacterium associated with the disease of huanglongbing, in the vector psyllid Diaphorina citri by using a TaqMan real‐time PCR assay. The concentration of the bacterium was monitored at 5‐day intervals for a period of 20 days after psyllids were exposed as fifth instar nymphs or adults to a Ca. L. asiaticus‐infected plant for an acquisition access period of 24 h. When adults fed on Ca. L. asiaticus‐infected plant, the concentration of the bacterium did not increase significantly and the pathogen was not transmitted to any citrus seedlings. In contrast, when psyllids fed on infected plant as nymphs, the concentration of the pathogen significantly increased by 25‐, 360‐ and 130‐fold from the initial acquisition day to 10, 15 and 20 days, respectively. Additionally, the pathogen was successfully transmitted to 67% of citrus seedlings by emerging adults. Our data suggested that multiplication of the bacterium into the psyllids is essential for an efficient transmission and show that it is difficult for adults to transmit the pathogen unless they acquire it as nymphs.     

Leaf age affects the efficacy of insecticides to control Asian citrus psyllid,Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive citrus disease worldwide, is associated with the bacteria transmitted by the psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae). One of the main tactics used to manage this disease is the chemical control of D. citri. In this study, the efficacy of four insecticides commonly used by the citrus growers against the D. citri adults was assessed in two vegetative growth stages of flush: young shoots (~ 10 cm in length) and mature leaves. The bioassays were carried out under the greenhouse and field conditions. The insecticides bifenthrin, dimethoate, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were tested at the recommended rates of 15, 450, 40 and 25 mg/L of water, respectively. The insecticides were sprayed onto the leaves of each stage until runoff. Psyllid mortality was assessed at different periods after insecticide application (0, 1 and 2 weeks). In both greenhouse and field trees, the period of control was shorter in the young shoots than in the mature leaves. In addition, the efficacy of insecticides rapidly decreased in the young shoots over time, mainly for imidacloprid and bifenthrin (less than 1 week). Thus, these results suggest that the number of spray applications to control D. citri should be more frequent during the flushing period.     

Environmental conditions for Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) take‐off

Environmental factors that influence flight activity of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) may have implications for Huanglongbing spread and management. In this work, four studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on D. citri take‐off. In the first, insects were transferred to sweet orange seedlings and confined inside an acrylic cage to verify the take‐off periodicity and the effect of environmental factors on this process. In the second, take‐off temperature threshold was estimated by recording the number of insects that initiated flight from a platform when subjected to gradual temperature increases from 15 to 39°C. In the other studies, we evaluated the effect of different photoperiods and temperature regimes (third study) and of constant temperatures (fourth study) on the propensity for D. citri flight. Insects were confined in clear plastic bottle cages with tubes of 50 ml placed on the cab, to collect emerged adults that initiated flights. Results showed that a small portion of the tested population (maximum 10%) tends to take off from plants and this behaviour is more prevalent in the afternoon (14:00–16:00 h), coinciding with daytimes of lower humidity and higher thermal amplitude. Adults that were submitted to lower temperatures (18°C) and short light periods (10 h) showed less propensity to flight. In contrast, at constant 27°C, the insects were more prone to flight, and this result was confirmed when individuals were submitted to increases in temperature, indicating that 27.14°C is the take‐off temperature threshold of D. citri. Results show that temperature plays an important role in the flight activity of D. citri and suggest that control measures of the insect may be more effective in the morning and in temperatures below 27°C, when the probability to take off from a host is lower.     

Effect of plant barriers and citrus leaf age on dispersal of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Studies designed to measure dispersal capacity of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) are needed to provide the epidemiological knowledge necessary to improve management of citrus huanglongbing. In this study, a mark–release–recapture technique was used to investigate whether 1) host or non‐host plants of D. citri can act as barriers for dispersing insects and 2) presence or absence of young citrus leaves influence movement of D. citri towards citrus plants. The experimental field consisted of four circular and adjacent areas containing citrus trees, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. ‘Hamlin’, planted in concentric circles at 18, 24 and 30 m from the release centre. Insect activity was monitored by recapturing at each distance using yellow stick traps. Dense plantings of tall non‐host plants of D. citri such as corn had no effect on insect dispersal towards citrus plants when compared to a shorter cover crop such as grass. In contrast, suitable host plants acted as traps decreasing movement of D. citri. Diaphorina citri dispersed at greater speeds in the absence of young leaves reaching 140 m within 6 hours after release, whereas in the presence of young leaves, individuals reached at most 60 m at 1 day after release. Results suggest that D. citri control measures may be more efficient during periods of highest vegetative activity when insects are less active. Moreover, the use of suitable host plants for D. citri as trap plants may be a potential tactic to prevent movement of insects into the crop.     

Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), and huanglongbing disease do not exist in the Stapleton Station area of the Northern Territory of Australia

Abstract  A series of specimens of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri , collected from the Northern Territory (NT) in 1915 was recently rediscovered in the Natural History Museum, London. Surveys were conducted in 2002 on suitable hosts in the locality of the 1915 collections to see if the infestation had persisted. These failed to detect either D. citri or the bacterium that it transmits and that causes huanglongbing disease in citrus. It is presumed that D. citri was eradicated fortuitously by the removal of all citrus plants above latitude 19°S during an eradication program for citrus canker in the NT from 1916 until 1922.     

Factors associated with Diaphorina citri immigration into commercial citrus orchards in São Paulo State,Brazil

Seasonality often influences multiple aspects of vector-borne plant diseases. With respect to the management of plant disease vectors, an understanding of the factors driving seasonal changes in vector flight activity may improve management outcomes by facilitating more proactive application of control measures. One of the most challenging issues for citrus Huanglongbing management is to forecast when disease primary spread by bacteriliferous Diaphorina citri will occur. We monitored the temporal patterns of immigrating psyllids, using upwards of 1,200 traps spread among 9 citrus farms and checked on a weekly basis over 4 years. This dataset was analysed with a set of hierarchical models to estimate the effect of climatic variables on citrus foliage production (i.e. flush), and effects of climatic variables and citrus foliage dynamics on D. citri catches over the season. The results showed substantial seasonal variability in immigrating D. citri abundance, with the critical dispersal/migration period occurring between end of winter and spring. During this period, 65% of the total psyllids were collected on sticky traps. Seasonality of immigrating D. citri coincided with changes in certain climate variables, with negative effects of humidity and daily maximum temperatures, and a positive effect of rainfall amount in prior weeks. Maximum temperature and both daily minimum temperature and rainfall during prior weeks were also associated with new citrus flush production, which itself was positively related to immigrating D. citri abundance. Based on these results, citrus growers should be aware and intensify the frequency of psyllid control tactics (i.e. insecticide and/or kaolin sprays) during this period in order to prevent Ca. L. asiaticus transmission. These results are an important step towards developing the predictive framework needed to refine D. citri and huanglongbing management.     

利用虫生真菌生物防治柑橘木虱的研究进展

柑橘木虱是柑橘黄龙病的重要传播虫媒。目前对柑橘黄龙病的防治尚缺有效的药剂和抗病品种,加强对柑橘木虱的防治,对控制柑橘黄龙病的蔓延具有重要意义。目前防治柑橘木虱多采用化学防治,杀虫剂的频繁使用造成了农药残留、环境污染、生物多样性被破坏和害虫产生抗药性等诸多问题,生物防治以其高效、低毒、低残留、不易产生抗药性等优点逐渐受到重视。昆虫病原真菌能侵入昆虫寄主体内,导致昆虫发病死亡,具有良好的病害流行潜力及生产应用便利性,利用昆虫病原真菌防治柑橘木虱具有广阔的发展空间。本文总结了用于柑橘木虱生物防治的虫生真菌种类,重点介绍了国内外利用球孢白僵菌、玫烟色棒束孢、淡紫紫孢菌、宛氏拟青霉、蜡蚧菌等虫生真菌在防治柑橘木虱中的应用,并对虫生真菌防治柑橘木虱的发展前景进行了展望,以期为柑橘黄龙病的防控提供借鉴。     

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci from the Asian citrus psyllid,Diaphorina citri Kuwayama,the vector for citrus greening disease,huanglongbing

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed from microsatellite‐enriched DNA libraries and mined from an expressed sequence tags library of Diaphorina citri, the vector of the citrus greening disease (huanglongbing). Analysis of 288 individuals from Florida, Texas, and Brazil showed that allelic diversity ranged from three to eight alleles per locus and observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.014 to 0.569 and from 0.052 to 0.653, respectively. These variable microsatellite loci can provide means for assessing overall genetic variation and migration patterns for this agriculturally important pest species. This information can be used to aid in developing successful management strategies.