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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294960

Title: The effects of potato psyllid vector density, movement behavior, and host choice on pathogen spread and zebra chip disease severity

Author
item RASHED, ARASH - Texas Agrilife Research
item Wallis, Christopher
item PAETZOLD, LI - Texas Agrilife Research
item WORKNEH, FEKEDE - Texas Agrilife Research
item RUSH, CHARLES - Texas Agrilife Research

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2013
Publication Date: 11/17/2013
Citation: Rashed, A., Wallis, C.M., Paetzold, L., Workneh, F., Rush, C. 2013. The effects of potato psyllid vector density, movement behavior, and host choice on pathogen spread and zebra chip disease severity. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Available: http://esa.confex.com/esa/2013/webprogram/Paper76925.html.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Zebra chip (ZC) disease of potatoes is associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso), a bacterium transmitted by the potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae). Zebra chip-affected fields are characterized by sporadic presence of symptomatic plants concentrated on field edges. Moreover, anecdotal observation suggests that disease severity and prevalence varies among cultivars. A study was conducted to evaluate effects of Lso infection and the number of infective potato psyllids on ZC severity and tuber biochemistry (phenolics, amino acids, and reducing sugars) of two potato cultivars. 'Russet Norkotah' was more severely affected by Lso infection than 'Red La Soda' in terms of ZC symptoms and ZC-associated changes in tuber biochemistry. Both cultivars had ZC severity positively associated with psyllid numbers. Psyllid preference for different potato cultivars ('FL1867', 'Red La Soda', 'Russet Norkotah', as well as silver-leaf nightshade) was evaluated through multiple-choice assays. Psyllid movement frequency and behavior also were assessed in relation to host plant density.