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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 #399723
Research Project: Identifying Vulnerabilities in Vector-host-pathogen Interactions of Grapevine and Citrus Pathosystems to Advance Sustainable Management Strategies

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: The changing status of citrus pest in California: from the past to the future

Author
item Yokomi, Raymond - Ray
item GAUTAM, SANDIPA - University Of California, Riverside

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2022
Publication Date: 11/6/2022
Citation: Yokomi, R.K., Gautam, S. 2022. The changing status of citrus pest in California: from the past to the future. Book of Abstracts XIV International Citrus Congress. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: As the California citrus industry faces climate change, introduction of exotic pests, insecticide resistance, and safe export of fresh citrus to international markets, citrus pest dynamics are changing. In this context, citrus thrips, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), red scale, and diseases such as leprosis and Huanglongbing (HLB) will be discussed. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of citrus leprosis revealed a complex of cytoplasmic and nuclear viral types with a host range that included citrus, hibiscus, orchids, and Brevipalpus flat mites. Five mite species were found to transmits these viruses in a propagative and circulative manner. Phylogenetic relationships suggested cileviruses affecting citrus are more closely related to insect viruses than plant viruses. The use of citrus tristeza virus viral vectors (CTVvv) will be discussed to help mitigate HLB and the ACP by expressing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and RNAi. To utilize CTVvv to deliver therapeutics, a novel method of using hairy roots to screen AMPs against CLas will be discussed. HLB been limited to home gardens in four urban southern California counties with eradication immediately upon detection and HLB has not become established in any commercial citrus orchard. The ACP is well established in southern California, so in addition to spraying, other methods to limit spread of ACP includes covering fruit bins of citrus harvested from ACP infested orchards from hitchhiking during transit. The use of canines to detect low level ACP populations will be discussed as a tool for pest management.