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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #340543
Research Project: Systems Approach for Managing Emerging Insect Pests and Insect-Transmitted Pathogens of Potatoes

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: The weed link in zebra chip epidemiology: Annual and perennial weeds as sources of the zebra chip pathogen

Author
item Cooper, William - Rodney
item Horton, David
item THINAKARAN, JENITA - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/8/2018
Publication Date: 7/12/2018
Citation: Cooper, W.R., Horton, D.R., Thinakaran, J. 2018. The weed link in zebra chip epidemiology: Annual and perennial weeds as sources of the zebra chip pathogen. American Journal of Potato Research. 95:212.

Interpretive Summary: Zebra chip disease of potato is associated with the plant pathogen, Liberibacter solanacearum. This bacterium is transmitted to potato plants and other crops or weeds in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae) by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli. Managing zebra chip requires control of the psyllid, which often includes the use of calendar-based applications of insecticides. A primary challenge in controlling the psyllid is the inability to predict what fields will be colonized by infective psyllids. Colonization of potato fields is likely due to psyllid dispersal from any of several species of weeds identified as hosts of potato psyllid. USDA researchers are developing a web-based "risk-index" for at least 12 weedy hosts of potato psyllid and the zebra chip pathogen in the Pacific Northwest. Risk designations for targeted weeds are based on five plant traits: 1) suitability to potato psyllid, 2) suitability to the pathogen, 3) whether it is a preferred host of the psyllid, 4) seasonal availability, and 5) regional abundance. The resulting risk index will allow growers to manage psyllids by targeted weed control and by insecticide applications better timed to coincide with psyllid arrival in potato fields.

Technical Abstract: The Weed Link in Zebra Chip epidemiology: Annual and Perennial Weeds as Sources of the Zebra Chip Pathogen Cooper, W. Rodney, David R. Horton, Jenita Thinakaran Zebra chip disease of potato is associated with the plant pathogen, Liberibacter solanacearum. This bacterium is transmitted to potato plants and other crops or weeds in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae) by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli. Managing zebra chip requires control of the psyllid, which often includes the use of calendar-based applications of insecticides. A primary challenge in controlling the psyllid is the inability to predict what fields will be colonized by infective psyllids. Colonization of potato fields is likely due to psyllid dispersal from any of several species of weeds identified as hosts of potato psyllid. USDA researchers are developing a web-based "risk-index" for at least 12 weedy hosts of potato psyllid and the zebra chip pathogen in the Pacific Northwest. Risk designations for targeted weeds are based on five plant traits: 1) suitability to potato psyllid, 2) suitability to the pathogen, 3) whether it is a preferred host of the psyllid, 4) seasonal availability, and 5) regional abundance. The resulting risk index will allow growers to manage psyllids by targeted weed control and by insecticide applications better timed to coincide with psyllid arrival in potato fields.