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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 #274801
Title: Effects of plant water stress and temperature on glassy-winged sharpshooter feeding in relation to transmission of Xylella fastidiosa

Author
item Backus, Elaine
item Krugner, Rodrigo
item SON, YOUNGSOO - California Department Of Food And Agriculture
item JOHNSON, MARSHALL - University Of California

Submitted to: CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/2011
Publication Date: 11/4/2011
Citation: Backus, E.A., Krugner, R., Son, Y., Johnson, M. 2011. Effects of plant water stress and temperature on glassy-winged sharpshooter feeding in relation to transmission of Xylella fastidiosa. CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium. p. 19.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar), is an economically important pest of grapevine, stone fruits, nursery trees, and ornamental plants in California because it transmits Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). Two related studies examined whether GWSS feeding behaviors that control Xf acquisition and inoculation are affected by abiotic environmental stresses such as plant water stress, cold ambient temperature, and diel light conditions. Both studies monitored feeding via electrical penetration graph (EPG). Effects of ambient air temperatures and light intensities on GWSS feeding on Euonymus japonica plants were studied outdoors (in Bakersfield, CA, a certified infested area) during spring. Effects of plant water stress were studied indoors, comparing feeding on well-watered vs. water-stressed citrus under high-temperature sodium vapor lamps. For both studies, EPG waveforms representing pathway phase (searching for xylem), X waves (xylem contact, likely to control Xf inoculation), and waveform C (ingestion of xylem fluid, Xf acquisition) were analyzed. Results showed no significant differences in feeding on grapevine for daylight vs. nighttime light intensities. However, xylem-sap ingestion occurred for significantly longer duration when ambient temperatures were higher than 10°C, and only occurred at temperatures below 10°C when ingestion was continued from a preceding, warmer period. Xylem-sap ingestion also was longer on well-watered than water-stressed citrus plants. Frequencies of X waves were higher, both at high temperatures and when plants were well-watered. Thus, both acquisition and inoculation behaviors are increased during warm air temperatures and when plants are well-watered.