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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 #419019
Research Project: Identifying Vulnerabilities in Vector-host-pathogen Interactions of Grapevine and Citrus Pathosystems to Advance Sustainable Management Strategies

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Lemon infection by citrus yellow vein clearing virus affects host preference of the citrus whitefly, Dialuerodes citri, by modulating the host volatile metabolite composition

Author
item Sun, Yongduo
item Krugner, Rodrigo
item Wallis, Christopher
item Yokomi, Raymond

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2024
Publication Date: 10/23/2024
Citation: Sun, Y., Krugner, R., Wallis, C.M., Yokomi, R.K. 2024. Lemon infection by citrus yellow vein clearing virus affects host preference of the citrus whitefly, Dialuerodes citri, by modulating the host volatile metabolite composition. Meeting Abstract. Presented at the California Citrus Conference, in Visalia, CA, on October 23, 2024.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV), transmitted by citrus whiteflies and aphids, poses a threat to California's citrus industry. Infected lemon trees show yellow vein clearing and water-soaked appearance of leaves and leaf deformities. Some plant viruses manipulate host plant metabolites that result in increased attraction by insect vectors. To determine if this occurs with CYVCV, we utilized gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to analyze and quantify amino acids, carbohydrates, phenolics, and terpenoids extracted from both CYVCV-infected and healthy lemon plants. Our findings indicate that levels of non-volatile phenolic compounds, amino acids, and carbohydrates are similar in both plant sets. However, the emission of volatile terpenes/terpenoids decreased significantly in virus-infected plants compared to the control plants. Several identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including a-phellandrene, a-terpinolene, limonene, p-cymene, linalool, and citral, are known for their ability to repel insect vectors. In subsequent Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, emission of VOCs from CYVCV-infected plants were found to attract more citrus whiteflies (Dialuerodes citri) than those from healthy plants. This suggests that the reduction of terpenes/terpenoids that repel whiteflies resulted in greater numbers of D. citri on CYVCV-infected lemons than on healthy control plants. Interestingly, changes in VOC profiles induced by CYVCV infection did not significantly impact the olfactory response of alate spirea aphids (Aphis spiraecola). Although more research is needed to separate effects of VOCs vs visual cues from CYVCV infection on vector behavior, our data offer insights for vector control management strategies aimed at curbing the spread of CYVCV.