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Research Project: IPM Methods for Insect Pests of Orchard Crops

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Title: Asian citrus psyllid stylet morphology and applicability to the model for inter-instar stylet replacement in the potato psyllid

Author
item CICERO, JOSEPH - University Of Florida
item ALBA-TERCEDOR, JAVIER - Universidad De Granada
item Hunter, Wayne
item CANO, LILIANA - University Of Florida
item SAHA, SURYA - Boyce Thompson Institute
item MUELLER, LUKAS - Boyce Thompson Institute
item BROWN, SUSAN - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Arthropod Structure and Development
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/2018
Publication Date: 8/10/2018
Citation: Cicero, J.M., Alba-Tercedor, J., Hunter, W.B., Cano, L.M., Saha, S., Mueller, L.A., Brown, S.J. 2018. Asian citrus psyllid stylet morphology and applicability to the model for inter-instar stylet replacement in the potato psyllid. Arthropod Structure and Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2018,06.007.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2018,06.007

Interpretive Summary: The molting process in psyllids are similar across species. Nymphs shed their prior life stage skin, called exuviae. A bacteria transmission model was produced which may explain how the bacteria infect the new nymph while shedding its skin. Bacteria have an opportunity to infect the base of the feeding structures (stylets) as they shed the old structures. This infection pathway identifies new interdiction points for disrupting pathogen transmission during psyllid development.

Technical Abstract: In Hemiptera, presumptive stylets for each consecutive postembryonic instar are manufactured prior to ecdysis. With the discovery that the bacterium “Candidatus” Liberibacter solanacearum accesses the tissues involved in the stylet replacement process of the potato psyllid, a hypothesis was formed that the bacterium could adhere to the stylets of freshly emerged instars and hence gain access to the host plant when feeding resumed. Stylet morphology and replacement process is similar in Asian citrus psyllid, vector of Liberibacter asiaticus, causal pathogen of huanglongbing (aka. citrus greening disease). A stylet replacement Liberibacter movement model was hypothesized to explain bacterial transmission.