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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189269

Title: INFLUENCE OF THE STORAGE PERIOD AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE DETECTION OF FALSE SPIDER MITE ENDOSYMBIONTS

Author
item NOVELLI, V. M. - CENTRO APTA CITROS
item FREITAS-ASTUA, J. - EMBRAPA MILHO E SORGO
item ARRIVABEM, F. - CENTRO APTA CITROS
item LOCALI, E. C. - CENTRO APTA CITROS
item Hilf, Mark
item Gottwald, Timothy
item MACHADO, M. A. - CENTRO APTA CITROS

Submitted to: Experimental and Applied Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2007
Publication Date: 5/7/2007
Citation: Novelli, V., Freitas-Astua, J., Arrivabem, F., Locali, E., Hilf, M.E., Gottwald, T.R., Machado, M. 2007. Influence of the storage period and number of individuals on the detection of false spider mite endosymbionts. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 42:17-21.

Interpretive Summary: In Brazil, Brevipalpus mites are vectors of citrus leprosis virus, which causes leprosis disease of citrus. This disease costs $60 million annually in Brazil for pesticides used to control the mite to stop the spread of leprosis. These mites are present in US citrus growing areas but leprosis disease is not. Endosymbiont bacteria, which live in the tissues of many insects have been found in Brevipalpus mites. These bacteria can affect the behavior of the mites and might influence how the mites spread leprosis disease. Studying the bacteria in these mites requires collection and proper storage of the mites. The work described in this paper shows that storage of mites at -20ºC keeps the mites and bacteria in good shape for further research. Mites stored in this manner can be used to study how the bacteria influence the spread of leprosis, and this information can be used to devise control strategies in case leprosis appears in US citrus.

Technical Abstract: Brevipalpus mites are vectors of citrus leprosis virus (CiLV), which causes citrus leprosis disease. Leprosis is considered the most serious virus disease of citrus in Brazil. Brevipalpus mites are present in US citrus production areas, but leprosis disease is not yet established. Bacterial endosymbionts have been identified from Brevipalpus mites and might influence the mite’s acquisition and transmission of citrus leprosis virus. Storage of mites at -20ºC was identified as a good method of preserving endosymbiont DNA for analysis and three adult mites stored at -20ºC were sufficient for detection of the endosymbiont DNA. Identification of these critical experimental parameters will help identify the endosymbiont role in virus acquisition and transmission.