Annals of Applied Biology (2009) 155, 29-36

H. Inoue, J. Ohnishi, T. Ito, K. Tomimura, S. Miyata, T. Iwanami and W. Ashihara (2009)
Enhanced proliferation and efficient transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus by adult Diaphorina citri after acquisition feeding in the nymphal stage
Annals of Applied Biology 155 (1), 29-36
Abstract: We carried out a quantitative detection of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the bacterium associated with the disease of huanglongbing, in the vector psyllid Diaphorina citri by using a TaqMan real-time PCR assay. The concentration of the bacterium was monitored at 5-day intervals for a period of 20 days after psyllids were exposed as fifth instar nymphs or adults to a Ca. L. asiaticus-infected plant for an acquisition access period of 24 h. When adults fed on Ca. L. asiaticus-infected plant, the concentration of the bacterium did not increase significantly and the pathogen was not transmitted to any citrus seedlings. In contrast, when psyllids fed on infected plant as nymphs, the concentration of the pathogen significantly increased by 25-, 360- and 130-fold from the initial acquisition day to 10, 15 and 20 days, respectively. Additionally, the pathogen was successfully transmitted to 67% of citrus seedlings by emerging adults. Our data suggested that multiplication of the bacterium into the psyllids is essential for an efficient transmission and show that it is difficult for adults to transmit the pathogen unless they acquire it as nymphs.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Hiromitsu Inoue, Toru Iwanami, Jun Ohnishi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Liberibacter asiaticus	Citrus (genus)
	Diaphorina citri	Citrus (genus)