Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #213838
Title: Ribosomal proteins of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphornia citri

Author
item Hunter, Wayne
item Hall, David

Submitted to: National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2007
Publication Date: 7/25/2007
Citation: Hunter, W.B., Hall, D.G. 2007. Ribosomal proteins of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphornia citri. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ Accession numbers: DQ675535-DQ673441.

Interpretive Summary: The use of genetic markers in the identification and classification of insects is becoming widespread. Genetic markers for the identification of psyllids and psyllid biotypes were lacking and therefore a set of 88 Ribosomal protein sequences were produced and submitted as a psyllid specific dataset into the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI, public database. The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is a small insect that feeds on the sap of citrus trees and is the primary vector of the plant pathogenic bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticum, which causes Huanglongbing, HLB, also known as ‘Citrus Greening’. The bacterium, which was recently discovered in Florida, 2005, causes severe economic losses in citrus making reducing the amount of fruit and fruit quality resulting in a bad taste. Genetic markers will aid in the identification of psyllids, and to identify biological control agents which feed upon psyllids by analysis of their gut contents. The use of these markers will also permit monitoring of a wide range of insects considered as beneficial insects which are helping to reduce psyllid populations.

Technical Abstract: We developed and sequenced 88 ribosomal protein sequences for their use as genetic markers to monitor and identify current and exotic introductions of psyllids into the U.S.A. The sequences were produced and submitted as a psyllid specific dataset into the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI, public database, accession numbers: DQ765535-DQ673441. The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is currently the only citrus psyllid in the US, but is only one of several species known to transmit the economically important citrus greening disease. The plant pathogenic bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticum, was identified in Florida in 2005, and was quickly spread by the psyllid. Commonly referred to as ‘Citrus greening’ the pathogen causes a disease referred to as Huanglongbing, HLB. The pathogen causes the loss of fruit, fruit discoloration and off flavored fruit. HLB is the considered the most serious disease of citrus and causes severe economic losses to citrus industries worldwide. Efforts have been put in place to monitor the spread of the psyllids and the disease, HLB. Traditional control measures of the psyllid have proven to be somewhat effective but are costly. Biological control measurements provide long-term environmentally friendly management tools of insect pests. Using a genomics approach we have been able to identify useable genetic markers within the expression library we prepared from adult psyllids. The use of these genetic sequences enables researchers to monitor psyllids, and to identify their predators which are feeding on psyllids by analyzing their gut contents. The use of these genetic markers also provides researcher a tool to gather information on beneficial insects and the seasonality of predator prey interactions which is an important element in the management of insect pests.