Picorna-like Virus Discovered in Wild Lime Psyllid, Leuronota fagarae Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

Authors: Stuehler, Douglas; Hunter, Wayne; CARRILLO-TARAZONA, YISEL - University Of Florida; ESPITIA, HECTOR - University Of Florida; BELL, TRACEY - Florida State University; MANN, HANNAH - Indian River State College; CLARKE, SASHA-KAY - University Of The West Indies; CICERO, JOSEPH - University Of Arizona; QURESHI, JAWWAD - University Of Florida; CANO, LILIANA - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2021
Publication Date: 6/11/2021
Citation: Stuehler, D.S., Hunter, W.B., Carrillo-Tarazona, Y., Espitia, H., Bell, T., Mann, H.R., Clarke, S.V., Cicero, J.M., Qureshi, J., Cano, L.M. 2021. Picorna-like Virus Discovered in Wild Lime Psyllid, Leuronota fagarae Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECE-10365.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/IECE-10365

Interpretive Summary: A new insect-infecting virus was discovered in the wild lime psyllid in Florida, and shown to be genetically similar to the the insect-infecting virus that is a pathogen of the Asian citrus psyllid, ACP. The ACP insect spreads the bacterial pathogen that infects citrus trees causing Huanglongbing. These two psyllids occur in the same environment in Florida where citrus is grown. The wild lime psyllid is not known to spread the pathogen of citrus trees. Thus, this new psyllid pathogen provides a potential biological control agent to reduce the Asian citrus psyllid, which may help stop the spread of citrus diseases into newly planted citrus trees.

Technical Abstract: Genetic sequencing enabled identification of a new Picorna-like virus infecting the wild lime psyllid, Leuronota fagarae, (Hemiptera Psylloidea). The sequence is significantly similar to the Picorna-viral pathogen known to infect the Asian citrus psyllid, ACP, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). These two psyllids occur in the same environment in Florida where citrus is grown but prefer different host trees. The L. fagarae feeds on a wild citrus relative, Zanthoxylum fagara (Sapindales: Rutaceae) and is not known to transmit bacterial pathogens of citrus trees. Finding natural pathogens to psyllid species in Florida, provides new biological control agents that may reduce the vector psyllid, D. citri. Agents that can reduce the psyllid population may also reduce the spread of huanglongbing.