Location: Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research
Project Number: 6034-21000-017-012-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 30, 2015
End Date: Sep 30, 2019
Objective:
Provide data to confirm or refute the value of sampling citrus flush infested with Asian citrus psyllid nymphs for diagnostics of infection with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus causal agent of Huanglongbing (citrus greening) disease.
Approach:
Citrus flush will be enclosed with 10 Asian citrus psyllids from a Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus infected colony for 10 days followed by Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) removal. ACP adults will be assayed for CLas infection at the time of removal. ACP nymphs will be allowed to develop from eggs laid that were laid during exposure of the flush. When nymphs have reached the third instar they will be collected along with the infested shoots and assayed for CLas. Plants will subsequently be held free of ACP and assayed for CLas at intervals throughout the duration of the project. Trees will also be evaluated for HLB symptoms following removal of ACP.
