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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294446
Title: Replication of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in its psyllid vector Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Author
item Ammar, Eldesouky
item Shatters, Robert - Bob
item Hall, David

Submitted to: Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/2013
Publication Date: 7/16/2013
Citation: Ammar, E., Shatters, R.G., Hall, D.G. 2013. Replication of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in its psyllid vector Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) [abstract]. Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting. Paper No. 72.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Asian citrus psyllid is the primary vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) implicated as causative agent of citrus huanglongbing (citrus greening), currently the most serious citrus disease worldwide. CLas is transmitted by the psyllid in a persistent circulative manner, but the question of replication of this bacterium in its vector has not been resolved so far. Thus, we conducted two large experiments to study the effects of various acquisition access periods (AAP) on CLas-infected citrus plants by psyllid nymphs and adults on CLas acquisition and transmission as well as on CLas replication in this vector. Following a 7-day acquisition access period (AAP), 34-52% of nymphs became infected, whereas only 11-23% adult became infected. Also, the CLas titer (relative to that of psyllid S20 ribosomal protein gene) was: 1) generally higher in nymphs than in adults, 2) higher with longer AAP, and 3) higher as post-acquisition time increased between 1 and 21 days.