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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #221144
Title: Amino acid fluctuations in young and old orange trees and their influence on glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis) population densities

Author
item BI, J - UC RIVERSIDE, CA
item Castle, Steven
item TOSCANO, N - UC RIVERSIDE,CA

Submitted to: Journal of Chemical Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2007
Publication Date: 8/15/2007
Citation: Bi, J.L., Castle, S.J., Toscano, N.C. 2007. Amino acid fluctuations in young and old orange trees and their influence on glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis) population densities. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 33:1692-1706.

Interpretive Summary: The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) is an important insect pest in California that feeds on well over 100 plant species in at least 37 families. Citrus is a year-round host that plays a critical role in the growth and reproduction of GWSS. Differences in relative numbers of GWSS between species are often observed but are rarely consistent as relative densities of GWSS tend to shift among host plant species throughout the year. However, in comparisons made within a species, one of the most consistent differences involves the relatively greater densities observed on younger trees compared to older trees. Our investigation of this phenomenon revealed that amino acid concentrations were significantly higher per volume of xylem fluid in younger trees as were the numbers of GWSS.

Technical Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) is an invasive insect pest in California.that proliferated in citrus while incorporating many other plant species in its host range. Field studies were conducted from September 2002 to September 2003 in adjacent young and old orange groves to determine the influence of amino acid concentrations in the xylem fluid on relative densities of the xylophagous GWSS. Beginning in early September 2002, higher densities of adult GWSS were observed on young compared to old trees. This difference became increasingly pronounced through late October in conjunction with increasing concentrations of essential amino acids in xylem fluid of the young trees. Greater densities of adult GWSS remained on young trees through early February 2003. Thereafter, the population crashed unexpectedly, leaving only negligible numbers of GWSS on either young or old trees. Mean concentrations of the essential amino acids for insect growth and development were higher in young compared to old trees. Besides these essential amino acids, asparagine, serine, glutamine, and tyrosine were also significantly higher in young trees during the September–February period when GWSS was present. The pattern of elevated amino acid concentrations in young trees continued through the entire year irrespective of the presence or absence of GWSS. Principal component analysis followed by factor analysis revealed three factors for young or old orange trees that accounted for 81.6 and 78.9% of the total variation in the young and old tree analyses, respectively. Various groups of amino acids in different factors displayed peak or elevated levels in young trees corresponding to the increased densities of GWSS. The potential roles of these amino acids in GWSS host selection are discussed.