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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 #309383
Title: NuPsyllid project update: Release and monitoring

Author
item Patt, Joseph - Joe

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2013
Publication Date: 10/17/2013
Citation: Patt, J.M. 2013. NuPsyllid project update: Release and monitoring [abstract]. 2013 Citrus Health Research Forum, October 15-17, 2013, Denver, Colorado.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The purpose of this NIFA-CAPS is to create attractive options for management of huanglongbing (HLB) by replacing the wild type insect vector (Asian citrus psyllid) with a population that is unable to transmit the bacterial causative agent (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (clas). Achieving this outcome will require progress in the following three areas of emphasis – An Effector Mechanism, A Driver System, and Diffusion. The current conditions threatening citrus production nationally require our key personnel to work concurrently on parallel technical plans and to accelerate the leading alternatives based on assessments by our team leaders, advisors and management. These assessments have already begun and will be focused on technical feasibility and on the probability of having an impact on disease control. Once a nuPsyllid population is developed, its successful use will depend on series of factors based on the overall phenotype and fitness of the population in the environment and most importantly, will depend on human adoption, including the behavior of regulatory agencies, growers and consumers. All of these attributes must be modeled accurately for a nuPsyllid release to be used effectively. As for any other innovation, diffusion is the rate of change. Several aspects of the technical and communication plan can be addressed most effectively only when an actual candidate nuPsyllid is available for release. The ability to rear, release and monitor psyllids has been initiated and are of immediate use in HLB disease management applications outside of this proposal. Scented lures for trapping ACP are in field trials in Southern California. It appears that ACP has a similar market behavior to humans, developing a preference for what they were raised on. A similar study will be initiated in Puerto Rico in September.