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Research Project: IPM Method for Control of Insect Pests and Transmitted Diseases of Orchard Crops

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Title: Double Strand RNA Absorption in Citrus Trees for Delivery to Asian Citrus Psyllids, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae).

Author
item CLARKE, SHASHA-KAY, - University Of The West Indies
item Hunter, Wayne
item Paris, Thomson
item BROWN, SHERLINE - University Of The West Indies
item QURESHI, JAWWAD - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/26/2021
Publication Date: 8/30/2021
Citation: Clarke, S.V., Hunter, W.B., Paris, T.M., Brown, S.E., Qureshi, J.A. 2021. Double Strand RNA Absorption in Citrus Trees for Delivery to Asian Citrus Psyllids, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae).. Proceedings of the 1st International Electronic Conference on Entomology, 1–15 July 2021, MDPI: Basel, Switzerland, doi:10.3390/IECE-10409
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/IECE-10409

Interpretive Summary: The biopesticide, Ribonucleic-acid-interference, RNAi, has been shown to reduce Asian citrus psyllid, and to degrade rapidly after application providing safer pest control. Analyses of RNAi sprays on citrus seedlings showed that young leaves absorbed more treatment, which is where the young psyllids develop and feed. Thus, the psyllids ingested significantly greater amounts of the treatment than adults feeding on older leaves. In caged glasshouse trials the spray on citrus foliage causing increased mortality of the young developing nymphs. Biopesticides, like RNAi may provide an effective strategy to disrupt psyllid populations thereby reducing the transmission of huanglongbing across citrus trees.

Technical Abstract: The biopesticide, Ribonucleic-acid-interference, RNAi, has been shown to reduce Asian citrus psyllids, Diaphorina citri. Analyses of exogenously applied sprays on young and mature leaves of citrus trees showed that the double-stranded RNA molecule was absorbed into young leaves at greater concentrations than older mature leaves. Since young psyllids develop on new growth leaves, applications of dsRNA when citrus trees are in flush may provide a critical time when the psyllid population could be reduced using RNAi. The psyllid nymphs ingested significantly greater amounts of dsRNA than adults that feed on older leaves. Development of RNAi biopesticides targeting genes linked to nymph development could disrupt psyllid populations, thereby breaking the transmission cycle to other citrus trees in the field.