Systemic Infection of Avocado,Persea americana,by Raffaelea lauricola,Does Not Progress Into Fruit Pulp or Seed

Avocado, Persea americana, is an important fruit crop in the tropics and warm subtropics. Laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola, is a systemic vascular wilt of avocado that spread recently to Florida, an important producing state in the USA. As fruit and seed of avocado produced in Florida are sold in other states and countries where this crop is produced, there is concern that commerce in these commodities might spread this disease. Potted, fruit‐bearing trees were artificially inoculated with R. lauricola, and plants were systemically colonized by the fungus. In no instance did infection progress further than the hilum (87 total fruit), as determined by re‐isolation of R. lauricola on a semi‐selective medium or its detection, with qPCR and high fidelity PCR, of diagnostic small subunit (SSU) 18s rDNA. Thus, it would apparently be safe to propagate avocado with seed from trees affected by this disease. Pedicels/peduncles and hila associated with these fruit were colonized by the pathogen. The latter tissues would be associated with/attached to marketed fruit, but they do not harbour the pathogen’s ambrosia beetle vector, Xyleborus glabratus. Thus, commerce in avocado fruit appears to be a negligible risk for expanding the geographic range of laurel wilt.     

Risk assessment of Hass avocado and Mexican Lauraceae for attack by redbay ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

1. The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), vectors the mycopathogen that causes laurel wilt, a lethal vascular disease of trees in the Lauraceae. Since being detected in Georgia, USA in 2002, this invasive pest has become established in 11 additional states.
2. With continued spread, X. glabratus will likely enter Mexico. In advance of this event, this study was initiated to assess the risk posed to eight native laurels and Hass avocados, the predominant cultivar grown in Mexico.
3. Wood bolts from each species were used in (a) field tests to determine the relative attraction of female X. glabratus, (b) laboratory bioassays to evaluate boring preferences, and (c) GC–MS analyses to identify host kairomones. For comparison, tests included control bolt treatments consisting of silkbay (an attractive U.S. laurel) and Simmonds avocado (a Florida cultivar susceptible to laurel wilt).
4. Hass avocado and two native laurels (Persea schiedeana and Ocotea heribertoi vel aff.) were highly attractive to females and elicited strong boring responses. These species were high in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, including α-copaene and α-cubebene.
5. Results of this study suggest that X. glabratus could become a serious agricultural and forest pest upon incursion into Mexico, with severe economic and ecological impacts.

     

North American Lauraceae: Terpenoid Emissions,Relative Attraction and Boring Preferences of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle,Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

The invasive redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is the primary vector of Raffaelea lauricola, a symbiotic fungus and the etiologic agent of laurel wilt. This lethal disease has caused severe mortality of redbay (Persea borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris) trees in the southeastern USA, threatens avocado (P. americana) production in Florida, and has potential to impact additional New World species. To date, all North American hosts of X. glabratus and suscepts of laurel wilt are members of the family Lauraceae. This comparative study combined field tests and laboratory bioassays to evaluate attraction and boring preferences of female X. glabratus using freshly-cut bolts from nine species of Lauraceae: avocado (one cultivar of each botanical race), redbay, swampbay, silkbay (Persea humilis), California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), and lancewood (Nectandra coriacea). In addition, volatile collections and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were conducted to quantify terpenoid emissions from test bolts, and electroantennography (EAG) was performed to measure olfactory responses of X. glabratus to terpenoids identified by GC-MS. Significant differences were observed among treatments in both field and laboratory tests. Silkbay and camphor tree attracted the highest numbers of the beetle in the field, and lancewood and spicebush the lowest, whereas boring activity was greatest on silkbay, bay laurel, swampbay, and redbay, and lowest on lancewood, spicebush, and camphor tree. The Guatemalan cultivar of avocado was more attractive than those of the other races, but boring response among the three was equivalent. The results suggest that camphor tree may contain a chemical deterrent to boring, and that different cues are associated with host location and host acceptance. Emissions of α-cubebene, α-copaene, α-humulene, and calamenene were positively correlated with attraction, and EAG analyses confirmed chemoreception of terpenoids by antennal receptors of X. glabratus.     

Temporal analysis of sesquiterpene emissions from manuka and phoebe oil lures and efficacy for attraction of Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is an exotic wood-borer that vectors the fungal agent (Raffaelea lauricola) responsible for laurel wilt. Laurel wilt has had severe impact on forest ecosystems in the southeastern United States, killing a large proportion of native Persea trees, particularly redbay (P. borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris), and currently poses an economic threat to avocado (P. americana) in Florida. To control the spread of this lethal disease, effective attractants are needed for early detection of the vector. Two 12-wk field tests were conducted in Florida to evaluate efficacy and longevity of manuka and phoebe oil lures, and to relate captures of X. glabratus to release rates of putative sesquiterpene attractants. Two trap types were also evaluated, Lindgren funnel traps and sticky panel traps. To document lure emissions over time, a separate set of lures was aged outdoors for 12 wk and sampled periodically to quantify volatile sesquiterpenes using super-Q adsorbant and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis. Phoebe lures captured significantly more X. glabratus than manuka lures, and sticky traps captured more beetles than funnel traps. Phoebe lures captured X. glabratus for 10-12 wk, but field life of manuka lures was 2-3 wk. Emissions of alpha-copaene, alpha-humulene, and cadinene were consistently higher from phoebe lures, particularly during the 2-3 wk window when manuka lures lost efficacy, suggesting that these sesquiterpenes are primary kairomones used by host-seeking females. Results indicate that the current monitoring system is suboptimal for early detection of X. glabratus because of rapid depletion of sesquiterpenes from manuka lures.     

Verbenone reduces landing of the redbay ambrosia beetle,vector of the laurel wilt pathogen,on live standing redbay trees

1. Laurel wilt is a disease that has caused extensive mortality of redbay Persea borbonia in the southeastern U.S.A. The redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus is the vector of the causal agent of laurel wilt, the fungus Raffaelea lauricola.
2. We tested two potential repellents to the redbay ambrosia beetle, verbenone and methyl salicylate (MeSA) in an 8‐month large‐scale experiment conducted in three locations in Florida. In each location, redbay trees were treated with a single or double application of SPLAT (Specialized Pheromone and Lure Application Technology; ISCA Technologies, Riverside, California) verbenone, as well as SPLAT with a 1:2 mix of MeSA and verbenone.
3. The MeSA + verbenone mixes did not reduce beetle captures compared with the control treatment, whereas SPLAT verbenone alone significantly reduced the number of beetles captured on sticky traps placed on redbay trees in the three locations. The reduction of beetle capture was similar regardless of one or two treatments of SPLAT verbenone. The reduction of tree death with the SPLAT verbenone treatment was not statistically significant.
4. The results of the present study suggest that trunk application of verbenone can reduce landing rates of the redbay ambrosia beetle on live redbay trees and shows promise for use in an integrated pest management strategy against laurel wilt.

     

Evaluation of repellents for the redbay ambrosia beetle,Xyleborus glabratus,vector of the laurel wilt pathogen

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is the vector of the laurel wilt disease fungal pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola. Since the vector's initial detection in the USA in the early 2000s, laurel wilt has killed millions of redbay, Persea borbonia, trees and other members of the plant family Lauraceae. To protect host trees from beetle attack and laurel wilt infection, we tested the efficacy of host‐ and non‐host‐derived and commercial compounds as X. glabratus repellents in field experiments. In our first trial, the major constituents of the non‐host tree, longleaf pine, Pinus palustris, and SPLAT Verb (verbenone 10%) were paired with manuka oil attractants and beetle captures were counted. Verbenone and a 1 : 1 blend of myrcene and camphene were intermediate to both the manuka positive and blank negative controls. Subsequently, we tested different blends of methyl salicylate (MeSA), a host defence and signalling compound, and verbenone in SPLAT dispensers using freshly cut redbay bolts as an attractant. All treatments reduced X. glabratus captures and boring holes as compared to the redbay (‐) repellent positive control; however, SPLAT Verb and SPLAT MeSA‐Verb (5% each) achieved the highest repellency, with results comparable to that of the non‐host (laurel oak). These trials establish that host‐derived and commercially available repellent compounds can reduce X. glabratus attacks and therefore have potential as part of an integrated management strategy against laurel wilt and its vector.     

Suitability of California bay laurel and other species as hosts for the non‐native redbay ambrosia beetle and granulate ambrosia beetle

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Integrated control of the long-tailed mealybug,Pseudococcus longispinus [Hom.: Pseudococcidae], in avocado plantations in Israel

Avocado plantations in Israel neighbouring cotton fields were heavily infested with and damaged by the long-tailed mealybugPseudococcus longispinus Targioni Tozzetti. Drift of pesticides from the aerial sprays of those cotton fields upset the biological equilibrium and resulted in outbreaks of the mealybug population. The honeydew moth,Cryptoblabes gnidiella Mill. is attracted to the honeydew and its larvae gnaw the fruit. Avocado plantations in the vicinity of deciduous fruit trees, vines and citrus orchards treated with non-selective pesticides were also damaged, but to a lesser degree. The annual peak of the long-tailed mealybug population occurs in late spring and early summer, declines from autumn to winter, and is at an ebb usually in April. The parasitic waspHungariella peregrina Compere, the most important natural enemy in Israel of the long-tailed mealybug, was released in the striken areas.Anagyrus fusciventris Girault was introduced from Australia and well established in citrus and avocado plantations. The lady beetleCryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. did not become established in avocado plantations. Lacewings were less important than parasites as biocontrol agents. Control of ants did not affect markedly the fluctuations in the mealybug populations. As a result of limitations of aerial sprays of cotton near avocado, as well as of release of natural enemies in afflicted plantations, the long-tailed mealybug population and its damage were reduced greatly.     

辣椒青枯病罹病与健康植株根际土壤微生物群落多样性研究

系统研究和分析辣椒青枯病常发地发病与健康植株土壤微生物群落结构特征,为辣椒青枯病的绿色防治提供理论依据.基于16SrDNA基因高通量测序技术,对辣椒青枯病发病和健康植株根际土壤微生物群落结构和组成进行分析,同时采用biologyeco平板培养技术研究其土壤微生物群落代谢多样性和功能多样性的特征.结果表明,辣椒青枯病发病和健康植株根际土壤微生物群落组成之间存在显著差异,辣椒青枯病发病土壤的OTU为4566个,辣椒青枯病健康土壤的OTU为4167个.依据OTU所属细菌物种信息对土壤细菌群落结构进行分析,变形菌门在发病和健康土壤中均为优势细菌类群,其次为放线菌门类群.其中健康植株根际土壤中芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、装甲菌门(Armatimonadetes)的相对丰度比发病植株的分别高出了4.37,3.87倍,而发病植株根际土壤中厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的相对丰度比健康植株的高出了3.87倍.辣椒青枯病发病土壤和健康土壤的土壤微生物代谢多样性也存在显著差异,同时,健康土壤中其微生物群落代谢得到显著增强,特别是对酚类化合物的利用显著增多,对辣椒抗病性存在显著的影响.研究表明,辣椒青枯病发病和健康植株根际土壤微生物群落组成和结构之间存在显著差异,并且健康土壤的微生物群落对酚类化合物的利用显著增强.     

First report of Phytopythium vexans causing the “Avocado sadness” in Michoacan,Mexico

Mexico is the main producer, consumer and exporter of avocado in the world, being Michoacan the main producer state contributing more than 80% of the national production. There are phytopathogens that decimate the production causing the death of the tree. Root samples were collected in avocado trees that showed the characteristic symptomatology of the disease known as avocado sadness, the sampling was carried out in four of the main avocado producing towns, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico. The isolation consisted in sowing root tissue in Petri dishes with V8^®-PARPH culture medium, subsequently they were identified morphologically and for species level it was determined by molecular biology, with the PCR-ITS technique. Pathogenicity tests were performed in triplicate with avocado seedlings with more than six leaves. After 24 hours, the inoculated plants expressed decay in the apical part, after 120 hours the leaves showed yellowing and after 15 days there was a generalized wilt on the stem and leaves, re-isolating the phytopathogen Phytopythium vexans. This study confirms the first report of the oomycete P. vexans affecting avocado trees in the most important producing region of the Mexican Republic.     

Effect of laurel wilt invasion on redbay populations in a maritime forest community

Invasive insects and fungal pathogens have triggered numerous declines in ecologically important tree species in the forests of eastern North America. Although now functionally extinct in many ecosystems, these tree species have been able to persist through sprouting or the presence of a low density of resistant individuals. In this study, we document widespread mortality of another dominant North American hardwood species, redbay (Persea borbonia, Lauraceae), from an exotic disease, laurel wilt. This disease is caused by a nonnative Asian ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, and its pathogenic fungal symbiont, Raffaelea lauricola, which were introduced to Georgia, USA in 2003. We conducted tree surveys on an island near the center of introduction from 2004 to 2009 and assessed the trajectory of tree mortality caused by laurel wilt. Additionally, we examined sprouting as a mechanism for persistence and whether changes in community structure occurred after laurel wilt introduction. We observed 98 % death of main stems and widespread mortality of genets (79 %) independent of main stem size. All remaining individuals were symptomatic of laurel wilt. Sprouting does not appear to give redbay the ability to maintain genets and recruit new stems into the forest canopy. We identified a negative interaction between laurel wilt and deer browse on stems and new sprouts, which may accelerate death rates of infected populations. If our results are applicable across redbay’s geographic range, a once abundant tree species may become ecologically extinct from coastal forest ecosystems in the southeastern United States.     

Application of rapid biochemical methods for detecting avocado sunblotch disease

The method of Palukaitis & Symons (1980) for extracting low molecular weight ribonucleic acids from plant tissue was improved by CF-11-cellulose chromatography and further simplified for use in routine biochemical indexing for avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBV). Extracts were prepared routinely at 10 g dry weight equivalents (DWE) of tissue per ml; more concentrated than previously possible with many avocado cultivars. Conditions for assaying extracts of ASBV were standardised and the lower limits for detection determined as 80–230 ng ASBV/g DWE of tissue for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and 1 ng/g DWE of tissue for complementary DNA (cDNA) probe assays. The concentration of ASBV in a single infected tree varied from 5 to 5000 ng/g DWE between branches, but only to a minor degree between mature leaves and young blossoms within branches. Six independent sources of sunblotch disease were examined and all proved positive for ASBV by PAGE. The ASBV extracted from five of these sources hybridised with cDNA prepared from the sixth or standard source (Hass/SB-1), with hybridisation values ranging from 43% to 89%. In a survey of 76 trees intended for propagation in Australia, all of 17 trees previously accepted as healthy on the basis of graft transmission tests were negative for ASBV by PAGE and had cDNA hybridisation values ranging from 1.8% to 12.1%. Amongst 59 trees apparently free of sunblotch symptoms but not previously indexed, only one tree was positive for ASBV by both PAGE and cDNA probe assay. The other 58 trees were negative by PAGE but had hybridisation values ranging from 1.0% to 42.8%. Forty-nine trees had values consistent with known healthy trees (<12% hybridisation), while the results of the remaining nine trees will require confirmation by additional tests before a conclusion about ASBV is made. The cDNA probe assay successfully detected ASBV in avocado seedlings graft inoculated with Hass/SB-1, 1–2 months before symptoms were displayed but not until 6 months after inoculation. Methods for improving the cDNA probe assay still further are discussed.     

Removal of Nonnative Vines and Post‐Hurricane Recruitment in Tropical Hardwood Forests of Florida1

In hardwood subtropical forests of southern Florida, nonnative vines have been hypothesized to be detrimental, as many species form dense “vine blankets” that shroud the forest. To investigate the effects of nonnative vines in post‐hurricane regeneration, we set up four large (two pairs of 30 X 60 m) study areas in each of three study sites. One of each pair was unmanaged and the other was managed by removal of nonnative plants, predominantly vines. Within these areas, we sampled vegetation in 5 X 5 m plots for stems 2 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) or greater and in 2 X 0.5 m plots for stems of all sizes. For five years, at annual censuses, we tagged and measured stems of vines, trees, shrubs and herbs in these plots. For each 5 X 5 m plot, we estimated percent coverage by individual vine species, using native and nonnative vines as classes. We investigated the hypotheses that: (1) plot coverage, occurrence and recruitment of nonnative vines were greater than that of native vines in unmanaged plots; (2) the management program was effective at reducing cover by nonnative vines; and (3) reduction of cover by nonnative vines improved recruitment of seedlings and saplings of native trees, shrubs, and herbs. In unmanaged plots, nonnative vines recruited more seedlings and had a significantly higher plot‐cover index, but not a higher frequency of occurrence. Management significantly reduced cover by nonnative vines and had a significant overall positive effect on recruitment of seedlings and saplings of native trees, shrubs and herbs. Management also affected the seedling community (which included vines, trees, shrubs, and herbs) in some unanticipated ways, favoring early successional species for a longer period of time. The vine species with the greatest potential to “strangle” gaps were those that rapidly formed dense cover, had shade tolerant seedling recruitment, and were animal‐dispersed. This suite of traits was more common in the nonnative vines than in the native vines. Our results suggest that some vines may alter the spatiotemporal pattern of recruitment sites in a forest ecosystem following a natural disturbance by creating many very shady spots very quickly.     

Symptoms, Wood Lesions and Fungi Associated with Esca in Organic Vineyards in Languedoc-Roussillon (France)

We analysed symptoms, wood lesions and fungi associated with esca in mature organic vineyards in the Languedoc‐Roussillon region. Most previous surveys concerning esca syndrome were conducted in conventionally managed vineyards in other regions. We first found that esca may be present at a very low level in vineyards that were not treated with sodium arsenite. Affected vines displayed three types of symptoms: leaves with interveinal necrosis, wilt of entire branches and these two symptoms in combination. During the 3‐year survey, not all affected vines displayed symptoms every year and the same vine rarely displayed the same symptom or combination of symptoms in successive years. The incidence of esca appeared to be correlated with the percentage of vines that died during the survey but no correlation was found with either mortality before the survey or with the age of the vineyard. Observation of cross‐sections of a total of 210 vines with esca symptoms and isolation of fungi from the wood lesions led to similar results to those obtained in conventionally managed vineyards. Four different lesions were identified: a white rot lesion, a brown lesion in a central position, a brown lesion in a sectorial position and a scattered black spotting in healthy wood. The most frequently observed fungal species were Fomitiporia mediterranea (Fom), Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum and Eutypa lata. The white rot lesion caused by Fom was generally accompanied by one or more other lesions in the same vine. Similarly, Fom was generally isolated with one or several other fungi. No relationship was detected between the expression of external symptoms and any specific lesion or fungus. Our study also showed that esca and Eutypa dieback are often superimposed in our region of sampling.     

First aeromycological study in an avocado agroecosystem in Mexico

Avocados (Persea americana Mill.) are economically and nutritionally valuable despite their susceptibility to several fungal diseases. This study was conducted in an agroecosystem of avocado trees in México. The air samples were collected every week by gravimetric methods at a height of 2 m from the ground level. Fungal colonies were isolated and transferred onto PDA and identified using morphological methods. During air sampling, different meteorological variables were measured. The symptoms of avocado diseases were determined by visual observations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on aeromycological characterization in an avocado agroecosystem. Thirty-two airborne fungal genera were identified; Fusarium (97.2 %) and Colletotrichum (94.4 %) were the most common fungal pathogens present in the atmosphere of avocado. In addition, seven genera of important phytopathogenic fungi of other crops (Alternaria, Capnodium, Pestalotia, Stemphylium, Rhizopus, Curvularia, and Phyllachora) were isolated. The maximum concentration of total fungi was observed in June (358 CFU m^?3) and the minimum in September (83 CFU m^?3). The total fungal concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with the temperature. The symptoms of five diseases of avocado, viz. anthracnose, scab, spot, canker trunk, and vascular wilt, were identified in the area study. It was observed that the symptoms of all the above-mentioned diseases were present in June; and in the same month, the fungal concentrations were highest.     

A microhistological survey on the trees of a relict subtropical laurel forest from the Macaronesian Islands as a base for assessing vertebrate plant diet

A microhistological collection and its respective key on the leaves and fleshy fruits produced by the mostly endemic trees that integrate the relict laurel forest in the Macaronesian Islands are presented. Epidermal tissues from the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of leaves and fruits of 23 species were extracted by scraping and prepared on individual microscope slides. An optical microscope with a camera lucida fixed at magnifications of ×400 was used to analyse and to draw the morphological traits of epidermal tissues to the same scale. Furthermore, quantitative data for those congeneric species were also obtained by using an image analysis program system. The results indicate that this microhistological method permits the differentiation of practically all species of trees present in the Macaronesian laurel forest. Furthermore, most species belonging to the same taxa (genus or family) show a general common pattern in the morphology of the different epidermal traits. Lastly, despite the effort that constitutes the preparation of plant microhistological collections of a determined ecosystem, it is of basic importance because it makes possible the performance of feeding ecological studies of several herbivorous and frugivorous vertebrate species. These results provide crucial information that elucidates the functioning of the food web and energetic flux dynamics of the Macaronesian laurel forest ecosystem.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 409–426.     

Outbreak of Phytophthora cinnamomi causing severe decline of avocado trees in southern Turkey

Since the summer 2017, severe decline symptoms have been observed on 10- to 25-year-old avocado trees in almost all commercial orchards planted in the Mediterranean coastal region of Turkey. Young, newly planted trees in infected orchards were also affected by the disease. Affected trees showed wilting, leaf discoloration, defoliation and severe dieback. Some trees were completely desiccated. Although fine roots of symptomatic trees usually were decayed, reddish brown cankers also occurred on taproots and lateral roots of heavily infected trees. The pathogens were isolated from necrotic root and soil samples of symptomatic trees, using selective medium and soil baiting, and were identified based on morphological features and DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. One isolate each of Phytophthora cryptogea and P. palmivora was identified, while all other isolates were P. cinnamomi. In addition, a subcortical fan-shaped mycelium, characteristic of Armillaria spp., was observed in the stem base of a symptomatic tree and identified as Armillaria gallica by DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the translational elongation factor 1-α (EF 1-α) gene regions. Pathogenicity of Phytophthora isolates was tested by stem inoculation on one-year-old avocado seedlings. Two months after inoculation, canker lesions developed on stems of seedlings inoculated by any of the three Phytophthora spp. In contrast, collenchyma callus formed over the wound points on control plants over the same time period. This is the first report of P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. palmivora and A. gallica causing root rot of avocado trees in Turkey. In addition, P. cryptogea and A. gallica are reported for the first time associated with disease on this host. Due to the severe symptoms and widespread occurrence, P. cinnamomi should be considered a potential threat to avocado cultivation and natural ecosystems of this region of Turkey.     

Laboratory host range testing of Lilioceris sp. near impressa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) – a potential biological control agent of air potato,Dioscorea bulbifera (Dioscoreaceae)

Air potato, Dioscorea bulbifera, is an invasive, herbaceous, climbing vine, which dominates invaded native vegetation in Florida. The fortuitous discovery of Lilioceris sp. near impressa defoliating D. bulbifera vines and feeding on the bulbils (aerial tubers) in the Katmandu Valley of Nepal initiated a project to assess the potential of this leaf beetle for biological control of air potato in Florida. Quarantine host specificity tests were conducted on 41 plant species in 24 families and 13 orders, with 26 species outside of the Dioscoreaceae and 15 species within the Dioscoreaceae. Adults test fed (nibbled) on 4/12 of tested Dioscorea species, but no larval feeding or development occurred on any plant other than the target, D. bulbifera. The larvae feed gregariously and quickly skeletonize offered leaves of air potato. Air potato bulbils that received any feeding damage to the primary meristematic region did not sprout. The ability of the beetle larvae and adults to feed on the bulbils is important because in Florida, the plant rarely flowers or produces fruit, so these aerial tubers are the primary means of persistence and spread. The adults can live for several months without food. This extremely specialized herbivore from part of the weed's native range appears to have great promise as a biological control of air potato.     

Obligate feed requirement of Fusarium sp. nov., an avocado wilting agent, by the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea aff. fornicata

The ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea aff. fornicata Eichhoff was first recorded in Israel in 2009. The symbiotic fungus Fusarium sp. nov., carried in the mandibular mycangia of the beetle, is responsible for typical wilt and dieback symptoms inflicted on avocado (Persea americana Miller) trees. The beetle-fungus complex has become a serious threat to the future of the avocado industry in Israel and elsewhere. When reared on Petri dishes, inoculated with 7-day-old cultures of the symbiotic Fusarium sp. nov., the beetle successfully completed its lifecycle and developed from egg to fertile adults in approximately 60 days. Galleries that were produced in the PDA medium by the adults, resembled those excavated in host plant xylem under natural host colonization conditions. Euwallacea aff. fornicata from avocado in Israel was not able to survive when fed with F. ambrosium but resulted in approximately 25 % mortality when fed on F. solani; both isolates originated from infected tea. Likewise, the larvae of E. fornicatus from tea in Sri Lanka, were not able to survive or complete their lifecycle when supplied with a feed of the Fusarium sp. nov. isolated from avocado in Israel. Isolates of two other Fusaria, F. mangiferae from mango and F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis from melon, were not able to support development or survival of the beetle larvae from avocado from Israel, using the same Petri dish rearing method. This indicates that the Fusarium sp. nov. isolate from avocado is obligately required for the survival and development of Euwallacea aff. fornicata currently occurring in Israel, affecting this crop and additional hosts. The usefulness of the Petri dish assay to study the interactions between ambrosia beetles and their fungal symbionts is discussed.     

Effect of tree species and end seal on attractiveness and utility of cut bolts to the redbay ambrosia beetle and granulate ambrosia beetle (coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is a non-native invasive pest and vector of the fungus that causes laurel wilt disease in certain trees of the family Lauraceae. This study assessed the relative attractiveness and suitability of cut bolts of several tree species to X. glabratus. In 2009, female X. glabratus were equally attracted to traps baited with swampbay (Persea palustris (Rafinesque) Sargent) and camphortree (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl), which were more attractive than avocado (Persea americana Miller), lancewood (Ocotea coriacea (Swartz) Britton), and sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana L.). These species were more attractive than loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus (L.) J. Ellis). X. glabratus entrance hole density and emergence from caged bolts were highest on swampbay and camphortree. In 2010, swampbay was significantly more attractive to X. glabratus than sassafras (Sassafras albidum (Nuttall) Nees), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), and eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.). Sassafras bolts end sealed with a liquid wax-and-water emulsion were more attractive to X. glabratus than end-sealed bolts of yellow poplar and redbud. Relative to unsealed bolts, end seal decreased X. glabratus entrance hole density on swampbay and decreased granulate ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky)) trap catch, entrance hole density, and adult emergence from swampbay. X. crassiusculus was not attracted to sassafras, yellow poplar, and redbud and was not more attracted to manuka oil than to unbaited traps. Sassafras was more attractive to X. glabratus than previously reported and supported reproducing populations of the insect. End sealing bolts with a wax-and-water emulsion may not be optimal for attracting and rearing ambrosia beetles in small logs.