Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314653
Title: Liberibacter transmission efficiency among potato psyllid haplotypes

Author
item MUSTAFA, T - Washington State University
item Munyaneza, Joseph - Joe
item Swisher Grimm, Kylie
item Horton, David
item ZACK, R - Washington State University

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/24/2015
Publication Date: 7/7/2015
Citation: Mustafa, T., Munyaneza, J.E., Swisher, K.D., Horton, D.R., Zack, R. 2015. Liberibacter transmission efficiency among potato psyllid haplotypes. Meeting Proceedings. pp. 68-71.

Interpretive Summary: Zebra chip, a new and economically important disease of potato in the United States is caused by the new bacterium Liberibacter, which is vectored by the potato psyllid. Researchers at USDA-ARS Wapato in Washington, in collaboration with scientists at Washington State University, assessed whether genetic variation in potato psyllid affects transmission of Liberibacter and zebra chip development. It was determined that there was no difference in transmission efficiency of the bacterium among the different genetic populations of the potato psyllid. Information from this research will help potato producers reduce damage caused by zebra chip by equally managing the potato psyllid, regardless of genetic variants of this insect pest.

Technical Abstract: The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is a vector of the phloem-limited bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso), the putative causal agent of zebra chip disease of potato. Little is known on the mechanisms by which the potato psyllid transmits Lso to potato. This lack of information is compounded by the recent discovery of at least four haplotypes of potato psyllid that often co-occur on potato crops in the Pacific Northwest. It is not known whether these haplotypes differ in their Lso transmission efficiency, which would necessitate haplotype-specific management approaches. The present study used the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technology to assess Lso transmission rates among the potato psyllids of three haplotypes. Transmission rates of Lso were not statistically different, suggesting that Lso transmission efficiency was similar among the haplotypes. Average Lso transmission rate was < 10% with <2 h inoculation access period, but increased to ~40% and 60% after 3 h and 24 h inoculation access periods, respectively.