Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328636
Research Project: Systems Approach for Managing Emerging Insect Pests and Insect-Transmitted Pathogens of Potatoes

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Bindweed Psyllid: Biology, Natural History, and Interactions with the Zebra Chip Pathogen

Author
item Cooper, William - Rodney
item JENSEN, ANDY - Washington State Potato Foundation
item BARCENAS, NINA - Heritage University

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2016
Publication Date: 7/7/2016
Citation: Cooper, W.R., Jensen, A., Barcenas, N. 2016. Bindweed Psyllid: Biology, Natural History, and Interactions with the Zebra Chip Pathogen. Meeting Proceedings. WA/OR Potato Conference pp. 7-9. January 26-28, 2016 Kennewick, WA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bactericera maculipennis is a native psyllid that commonly occurs on field bindweed in the western United States. We have found that Pacific Northwest populations of B. maculipennis carry Liberibacter solanacearum, the pathogen associated with zebra chip disease of potato. In North America, this pathogen is primarily associated with the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli. Although potato psyllid prefers host plants within the Solanaceae, this insect can also develop on field bindweed. Our results suggest that interspecific transmission of Liberibacter has occurred between B. maculipennis and potato psyllid on host plants shared by these two psyllid species. Potato is not a host for B. maculipennis, and potato plants exposed to Liberibacter-infected B. maculipennis did not acquire Liberibacter. We therefore conclude that B. maculipennis is not a direct threat to potato despite its ability to carry the zebra chip pathogen.