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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 #331291
Title: Substrate-borne vibrational signals in intraspecific communication of GWSS

Author
item Krugner, Rodrigo
item NIERI, RACHELE - Fondazione Edmund Mach
item Gordon, Shira
item MAZZONI, VALERIO - Fondazione Edmund Mach

Submitted to: CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2016
Publication Date: 12/13/2016
Citation: Krugner, R., Nieri, R., Gordon, S.D., Mazzoni, V. 2016. Substrate-borne vibrational signals in intraspecific communication of GWSS. CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium. p. 212-220.

Interpretive Summary: Animal communication is vital to reproduction, particularly for securing a mate. Some insects, including glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) which is a vector of Pierces disease of grapevines, communicate by exchanging vibrational signals that are transmitted through host plants. Since GWSS mate selection behaviors rely on vibrational communication, what if signals can be interfered with to prevent communication? If animals fail to communicate, population densities are likely to reduce due to lack of fertilization. Exploitation of disruptive vibrational signals for suppressing GWSS populations in citrus orchards and vineyards could prove to be a useful tool for reducing incidence of Pierce’s disease, but existing knowledge on GWSS vibrational communication is insufficient to implement a management program for this pest in California. Using a laser-Doppler vibrometer and associated softwares, project scientists identified and described signals used by GWSS to communicate. Candidate disruptive signals (natural and synthetic) that can travel in any GWSS host plant (including citrus and grapevines) were identified, but efficacy of such signals remains to be determined.

Technical Abstract: Exploitation of vibrational signals for suppressing glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) populations in citrus orchards and vineyards could prove to be a useful tool. However, existing knowledge of GWSS vibrational communication is insufficient to implement a management program for this pest in California. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify and describe substrate-borne signals associated with intraspecific communication of GWSS. Recordings of GWSS placed together on plants revealed a complex series of behaviors linked to vibrational signals that lead to mating. Analysis of the spectral and temporal features of GWSS vibrational signals such as frequency span, dominant and/or fundamental frequency, intensity, and pulse repetition rate identified candidate disruptive signals (natural and synthetic) that can be reproduced in any GWSS host plant, but efficacy of such signals in interfering with GWSS communication remains to be determined.