Florida growers have reported that supplementary foliar nutrient applications maintain productivity of HLB-infected trees. However, efficacy and sustainability of the nutritional approach for HLB disease management has not been validated. The main cause of visible HLB symptoms, yield reduction, and tree decline appears to be disruption of phloem tissue, which blocks the flow of photosynthate and nutrients from source to sink tissue. If supplemental nutrition is a sustainable approach, it is expected that foliar nutrients will reduce or eliminate damage and plugging in citrus phloem tissue caused by the bacterium and possibly reduce spread or replication of the bacterium in infected trees. A greenhouse study is underway to evaluate a mixture of foliar nutrients representative of that used by Florida growers for HLB management. Infected and non-infected Hamlin trees under different combinations of nutritional treatments are being monitored for bacterial titer in phloem tissue and development of disease symptoms, including phloem cell morphological changes: plugging, necrosis, and starch accumulation. Initial results show no difference in the infection rate or bacterial populations in leaf midribs. Multiple microscopy techniques including TEM, light, and fluorescence microscopy with callose-specific dyes are being used to monitor phloem plugging and necrosis as the infection progresses. A complimentary field trial is evaluating bacterial titer, yield, and tree health in a south Florida Hamlin grove with a mixture of healthy, asymptomatic (PCR+), and HLB symptomatic trees.
The objective is to evaluate soil-applied neo-nicotinoids and other SAR inducers on HLB disease progress in newly planted citrus trees subjected to psyllid-mediated infection or graft-inoculation. One yr-old Hamlin trees were planted in May 2009 and treated as follows: 1) untreated check (UTC), 2) foliar insecticide to control psyllids, 3) soil-applied imidacloprid/thiamethoxam (IMID/THIA) to induce SAR, 4) soil-applied IMID/THIA plus foliar insecticides, 5) graft-inoculated UTC, 6) graft-inoculated with IMID/THIA. There were 50 trees per treatment (5 blocks of 10 trees). In 2009, the effect of SAR inducers on HLB infection progress was inconclusive perhaps attributable to the interaction of IMID/THIA with psyllid control which may have an uncontrolled effect on psyllid transmission. In 2010, the SAR inducer acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM, Actigard 50WP) which does not control psyllids was substituted in treatments 3, 4 and 6. At 24 months after treatments began, 105 trees were PCR+ (35%) in the trial. Higher number of PCR+ trees occurred in the UTC (20), the UTC with graft inoculation (22), and the IMID/THIA/ASM with graft-inoculation (28). A lower number of PCR+ trees occurred in the treatments with SAR inducers (11), foliar insecticides (12), and foliar insecticide plus SAR inducers (12). Two years after treatments were initiated, the effect of SAR on HLB disease progress has been minimal, which indicates a lack of promise for SAR inducers in HLB management.
The objective is to evaluate soil-applied neo-nicotinoids and other SAR inducers on HLB disease progress in newly planted citrus trees subjected to psyllid-mediated infection or graft-inoculation. One yr-old Hamlin trees were planted in May 2009 and treated as follows: 1) non-treated check (UTC), 2) foliar insecticide to control psyllids, 3) soil-applied imidacloprid/thiamethoxam (IMID/THIA) to induce SAR, 4) soil-applied IMID/THIA plus foliar insecticides, 5) graft-inoculated UTC, 6) graft-inoculated with IMID/THIA. There were 50 trees per treatment (5 blocks of 10 trees). In 2009, the effect of SAR inducers on HLB infection progress was inconclusive perhaps attributable to the interaction of IMID/THIA with psyllid control which may have an uncontrolled effect on psyllid transmission. In 2010, the SAR inducer acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM, Actigard 50WP) which does not control psyllids was substituted in treatments 3, 4 and 6. At 17 months after treatments began, 65 trees were PCR+ (22%) in the trial. Higher number of PCR+ occurred in the UTC (14), the UTC with graft inoculation (13), and the IMID/THIA/ASM with graft-inoculation (18). Lower number of PCR+ trees occurred without graft inoculation in treatments with SAR inducers (6), foliar insecticides (8), and foliar insecticide plus SAR inducers (6). At this time, the effect of SAR on HLB disease progress is minimal, which indicates a lack of promise for use of SAR inducers in HLB management.
Objective 1: On Young fruiting Hamlin trees, elevation of imidacloprid (IMID) to 2X the rate per season to compensate for the higher tree volume produced canker control effects on leaves and fruit that matched those of 6 applications of copper sprays (the recommended program for canker control on young fruiting trees). This control is attributed to SAR-mediated reduction in canker incidence on the foliage not to control of the citrus leafminer interaction. Trunk application of IMID produced canker control on leaves and fruit that was equivalent to that of the IMID soil application. The advantage of trunk application is that IMID is not reaching the soil which alleviates the risk of leaching in the soil profile. Objective 2 Integration of soil applied IMID with foliar applications of copper sprays for control of canker. IMID applied once at the beginning of the season followed by 11 CH sprays gave the best control in the 2010 trials. This confirms that SAR and copper could be integrated for augmentation of canker control for young fruiting trees. Objective 3 is to evaluate of the complementary use of acibenzolar S- methyl (ASM), thiamethoxam (THIA )and IMID soil applications to increase and/or extend canker control in 2-yr-old grapefruit trees. In 2010, ASM at different frequency of soil application with THIA and CH sprays at 21 day interval in 2 yr-old Ray Ruby grapefruit and 1-yr-old Vernia sweet orange was highly effective for suppression of foliar canker compared to the non-treated check in each trial.
for April 2011 The objective of this project was to investigate three questions: 1) what is the seasonal pattern of Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus prevalence in leaf tissue on a grove scale; 2) what are the flushing patterns of citrus and whether these flushing patterns affect the prevalence of Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus in Diaphorina citri or citrus leaves; and 3) what is the prevalence of Diaphorina citri carrying Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus on a grove scale and how does it compare the results from the citrus trees in the same grove. In 2008 and 2009 Ebert and Rogers demonstrated that the prevalence of Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus in the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) varied seasonally but the pattern between seasons was not consistent. It was suggested that perhaps the reason for the differences between the years related to the flushing patterns of citrus and the prevalence of the bacterium in the leaves where psyllids are feeding. This project aims to determine if there is a relationship between the frequency of disease on branches and psyllids. The postdoc working on this project is still processing the backlog of samples but preliminary results from 2 groves is available. Two groves are in Polk County near Lake Alfred (high HLB levels) and Lake Wales (low HLB levels) and the third is in Lake County (moderate HLB levels). The Polk County groves are Hamlin sweet orange and the 3rd is Early gold. We are restricted in site selection by the presence of significant populations of ACP. In each grove, two hundred trees were selected from 10 consecutive rows. One leaf/tree was randomly picked every fortnight. For qPCR detection of Las, the midribs of five random leaves were pooled to obtain 40 samples/date. An estimated Las prevalence in the branches was generated from the pools with PooledInfRate v3. Simultaneously, ACPs were collected from the same location to compare the seasonal prevalence of Las in citrus branches and ACPs. Las prevalence peaked twice in the moderately infected grove at approx. 0.50 mid-October 2010 and April 2011, dipping to 0.20 in February 2011. Las prevalence in ACP had a similar pattern but the main peak reached 0.75 in December. In the highly infected grove, there has been a steady increase of Las prevalence in branches since July 2010 to Jan 2011 an appears to continue. There was the same general trend observed with ACP although the prevalence levels were 0.15 to 0.20 higher. The prevalence rates in the low HLB incidence grove are not available yet. The phenology data continues to be collected at all sites every 2 weeks. To date, flush has been synchronous between trees.
Report for September 2011 The objective of this project was to investigate three questions: 1) How long does a leaf needs to be infected by Guignardia citricarpa before ascospore production can be initiated; 2) How does infection and colonization of leaves by Guignardia citricarpa occur and potentially showing how pseudothecia, the sexual spore producing structures, are produced; and 3) what is the interaction between the common twig colonizing pathogen Diaporthe citri and the black spot pathogen Guignardia citricarpa and whether they can co-exist to successfully sporulate on dead twigs. This project was initiated in August. The graduate student, Nan-Yi Wang, whose Ph.D. project this is, started his studies in Gainesville at the end of August and progressing well in classes. He is also conducting research while in Gainesville. No substantial progress has been achieved thus far.
Objective 1: To evaluate topical applications to the trunk of bactericides and Pentra-bark, a penetrant proven effective for trunk application of systemic insecticides. In the greenhouse, 0.5-1.0 cm dia trunks of Hamlin orange trees (1 yr old) were painted with a Magna-Bon (Copper sulfate pentahydrate), Cop-R-Quik (copper nitrate), a copper phosphite (CP), an experimental copper (EXP) or oxytetracycline (OTC) applied with 0.1% Pentra-Bark or left non-treated. After for 2-3 weeks, the leaves were observed for phytotoxicity. No phytotoxicity was observed, potential bactericidal activity in the plants is being assayed with detached immature leaves inoculated with Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) as a Gram negative bacterial surrogate for non-culturable Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las). In July, the bactericide treatments were scaled-up in a field trial by painting 1-2 yr-old nursery trees exposed to highly infected psyllid populations at USDA-ARS Picos farm in Ft. Pierce.
Objective 1 is to conduct a field evaluation of nutritional sprays for control of HLB and HLB symptom expression and yield. The field study was set up May 2010 in Southern Grove, Hendry Co., FL. Six treatments were located in 4 plots of 150 trees per treatment (interior 10 trees in each block were identified for PCR, leaf nutrition sampling, tree health and yield evaluation). Treatments were 1) non-treated check; 2) Nutri-Phite sprayed 4 times bimonthly; 3) N-Sure sprayed bimonthly; 4) Agra Sol Mn/Zn/Fe plus Nutri-Phite plus triazone urea sprayed bimonthly; 5) Keyplex 1400 DP plus Nutriphite plus triazone urea sprayed bimonthly; 6) Wettable powder nutrients (Diamond R #2) plus Nutri-Phite P+K sprayed bimonthly. The materials were applied to both sides of the tree in 125 gallons per acre with an airblast sprayer driven at 2 mph to obtain thorough coverage. Three disease ratings have been taken so far and a slight decline in tree health has been observed, but no significant treatment effects have been observed. There were no significant treatment differences in yield at the first harvest, after the initiation of treatments the previous April. Objective 2 is to determine the mechanism of HLB symptom suppression by foliar nutritional application, Rep 1 from a prior 1 year grant using Hamlin sweet orange trees inoculated with HLB and treated bimonthly with the nutritional sprays treatments 1, 2, 3, and 5 from objective 1 has finished. Monthly monitoring of Infection rate and disease development did not show obvious treatment differences except a possible increased rate of decline in treatment 2 compared to all other treatments. Trees that were only PCR+ in root tissue showed an unexpectedly fast decline across treatments. After pruning trees at 6 MPI for canopy management, sampling at 7 MPI showed a slight reduction in titer in the new flush of all treatments except treatment 1, where no Las was detected until 8 MPI. This suggests that treatments 2,3, and 5 may potentiate movement of Las to new flush where psyllids are most likely to feed and acquire Las. Sectioned midrib samples were observed by light microscopy at 6 and 8 MPI and 9 MPI. At 6 MPI reduced phloem plugging and necrosis was observed in treatments 3 and 5, however these treatments had some symptomatic leaves without detectable Las. These leaves had abnormal starch buildup preferentially in phloem tissue instead of mesophyll cells. At 9 MPI there was significant variation in plugging between midribs within a treatment even with highly similar symptoms and Las titer. All treatments had a full range of phloem damage observable in midribs from similarly symptomatic leaves ranging from severe plugging and collapse to apparently healthy phloem. Rep 2 plants began bimonthly nutritional treatments in June and were inoculated at the end of August and monthly samplings of leaf and root tissue are underway. Root samples are split for qPCR Las quantification and starch analysis for a quantitive measure of phloem function throughout the plant. Month 1 post inoculation samples have just been harvested and are being processed for qPCR.
Improved method of Salivary sheath isolation was developed and used to show that the primary component of the sheaths produced from adult psyllids feeding on an artificial diet is carbohydrate. A postdoctoral research associate was recruited and identified during this time as was technical staff to support maintenance of Asian citrus psyllids. Greenhouse facilities were remodeled to provide room for increased psyllid production needed for this research and plant material was obtained to be used as host for psyllid colonies. Meeting with Torrey Pines Institute for molecular studies were held and experimental procedures were developed for peptide library screening.
Protection of ‘Hamlin’ orange fruit from infection by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, the cause of citrus canker, is necessary to reduce premature fruit drop. The objective was to evaluate copper formulations for control of fruit infection and drop in 6- to 8-year-old ‘Hamlin’ trees. Copper sprays were applied at 21-day intervals after fruit reached 0.5- to 1.0-cm (0.25 to 0.50 inches) diameter. The period of susceptibility of fruit to canker infection and fruit drop was established by increasing the number of applications through the fruit growth period. Separate treatments ended at each 21-day interval so that there were four to seven applications per season. In 2008, early season infection occurred during rains before copper sprays commenced in late April. Subsequently, five sprays of copper formulations at rates exceeding 0.5 kg/ha (1.1 lb/acre) metallic copper significantly reduced incidence of lesions on fruit. Early season fruit disease and cumulative fruit drop were highly correlated among copper treatments (r = 0.95). Although a tropical storm in early August promoted disease on fruit late in the season, late season fruit disease and fruit drop were less well correlated (r = 0.78). In 2008 and 2009, additional sprays after the period of early fruit susceptibility did not further reduce canker incidence or fruit drop. In 2009, copper sprays were initiated before significant spring rainfall and the incidence of fruit disease and fruit drop were lower and the correlation of early season fruit disease was less positively correlated with fruit drop (r = 0.52) compared to 2008. In 2010, disease on fruit and premature drop were not significantly different from the untreated checks although fruit disease and early season infection were still significantly correlated (r = 0.70). Overall, there was little difference in efficacy among copper formulations, although control was reduced for treatments with copper sulfate pentahydrate at lower rates of metallic copper. In each season, copper treatments controlled fruit drop by ‘50% compared to the untreated check; however, as ‘Hamlin’ trees grew from 6 to 8 years of age, canker incidence dropped due to the development of hedgerows, which reduced windblown rain penetration into the grove. Hence, fewer copper sprays will be necessary after canopy closure promotes an internal windbreak effect.
The intent of this study is to examine the effect of windbreaks, copper sprays to reduce infection, and leafminer treatments to determine there individual and combined effects on control of citrus canker in Brazilian commercial citrus and the applicability of this strategy to the US commercial citrus industry. A preliminary study was published in Crop Protection 27:807-813, that indicated that copper and insecticide applications significantly reduced canker infection but windbreaks did not have any effect. As described previously, a new series of plots with much more extensive windbreaks were established via a USDA/ARS specific cooperative agreement with the University of Sao Paulo, and the Brazilian cooperator at an IAPAR farm, in Xambr’, Parana state, using, 2-yr-old P’ra on Rangpur lime. Windbreaks were completed and plants were be established in Mid April 2010, but severe winds damaged the windbreaks during two storm events. These windbreaks have been reinforced and rebuilt. This delayed the experiment which is now scheduled to begin in March 2012. The following treatments will then be applied: 1) no sprays (control), 2) Cu++ sprays to reduce citrus canker incidence, and 3) insecticide sprays to inhibit infestations of Asian leafminer (secondary effects). Main effects are windbreak versus no windbreaks. Citrus canker incidence will be estimated on multiple branches on each tree treated as the number of leaves per branch infected. We anticipate running these plots for 2-3 more years to collect all necessary data. The development of the Programmable leaf wetness controller (PLWC) software was written, debugged, is complete, and the control program is working well. New leaf wetness sensors were designed and constructed and calibrated and works well. An electronic glitch was determined in the leaf wetness sensors, new control circuitry was designed, constructed retested, and the glitch overcome. The newly designed probes with various sensor bridge materials are currently being tested. New windbreak trials are being established in Saint Lucie County. Bock, C. H., Graham, J. H., Gottwald, T. R., Cook, A. Z., and Parker, P. E. 2010. Wind speed effects on the quantity of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri dispersed downwind from canopies of grapefruit tree infected with citrus canker. Plant Di Bock C.H., Graham, J.H., Gottwald, T.R., Cook, A.Z., and Parker, P.E. 2010. Wind speed and wind-associated leaf injury affect severity of citrus canker on Swingle citrumelo. Eur J. Plant Path 128:21-38 Bock, CH, Parker, PE, Cook, AZ, Graham, JH and Gottwald, TR. 2001. Infection and decontamination of citrus canker and inoculated the surfaces. Crop Protection 30:259-264. Hall, D.G., Gottwald, T.R. and C.H. Bock. 2010. Exacerbation of citrus canker by citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella in Florida. Florida Entomologist. Florida Entomologist 93:558-566. Bock, C.H., Gottwald, T.R. and Parker, P.E. 2011. Distribution of canker lesions on the surface of diseased grapefruit. Plant Pathology (Accepted). Bock, C.H., Cook, A.Z., Parker, P.E., Gottwald, T.R., and Graham, J.H. 2011. Some characteristics of the dispersal plume of bacteria of Xanthomonas citri subsp citri in wind-driven splash downwind of canker-infected grapefruit tree canopies. (Plant Disease). Bock C.H., Graham J.H., Cook A. Z., Parker P.E., and Gottwald T.R.. 2012. Predisposition of citrus foliage to infection with Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. (Submitted to Plant Disease )
The objectives of this study are: 1) to develop a series of flexible stochastic models to predict the temporal increase and spatial spread of citrus HLB and canker. They can be used in a number of ways: to predict spread and to analyze the effectiveness of control strategies both in plantations and State-wide. 2) Test various control methods under field conditions to evaluate effects and collect data to parameterize models. SEIDR model. Using Markov-chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, and extensive data from infected areas of South Florida for successive snapshots of the occurrence of symptomatic detected trees in known populations of susceptible trees, we have been able to estimate the transmission rates and dispersal kernel for HLB. A working model has been developed that focuses on the differential effects of host age on epidemiological parameters as well as variability across the plantation and that allows for uncertainty in the parameters as well as variability over time and through space. Our main approach has been the use of Baysian MCMC methods to infer posterior densities on the model parameters. The uncertainty is then incorporated in models to predict spread and to allow for uncertainty in the efficiency and comparison of control methods. Recently we have developed a second approach known as Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) and have used canker and more challengingly HLB as a test bed. In comparing model outputs of the ABC versus the MCMC estimates we determine that the dispersal distances being considered needed to be lengthened to gain the most accurate estimation. This seemingly small difference may become apparent and important when we analyse the differences between control strategies. A web based version of the model (front end) is very far along and now I the final steps of validation testing. Both residential and commercial citrus scenarios are being tested with user selectable and changeable via sliding controls. (See pubs below). The front end allows visualization of the effect of these various control strategies allowing researchers, growers and regulators the ability to compare the results of thousands of simulations for practical management decision making and/or regulatory intervention/strategy building. Via this model we have been able to examine the effects of various controls such as using insecticide applications or not, removing infected trees or not, and the effect of HLB infection in young versus older trees. Model output confirms that controlling secondary infections by diseased tree removal and insecticide applications plus controlling primary infection from new insect immigrations by areawide control strategies, can reduce disease increase to a manageable 2 to 5% increase per year. Industry representatives had indicated that this level of diseases accommodates economically sustainable. This may be quite useful to manage Texas and California outbreaks. A recent trip to Cambridge has moved this front end along significantly and publication/distribution is anticipated soon. Publications: 163. Gottwald, T. R. 2010. Current Epidemiological Understanding of Citrus Huanglongbing. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 2010. 48:119’39. S. Parnell, T.R. Gottwald, W.R. Gilks, and F. van den Bosch. 2012. Estimating the incidence of an epidemic when it is first discovered and the design of early detection monitoring. Journal of Theoretical Biology 305: 30-36. M.F. Parry, G.J. Gibson, S. Parnell, T.R. Gottwald, M.S. Irey, T. Gast, and C.A.Gilligan. 2012. Spatiotemporal modelling of the spread of HLB/Citrus Greening on orchard scales. Epidemics (submitted).
The potato/tomato psyllid, Bactericerca cockerelli (B. cockerelli), is a very important plant pest and also vectors of phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous (solanacearum), which is associated with zebra chip disease of potatoes. The B. cockerelli – Ca. L. solanacearum interaction very much resembles that of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri and Ca. L. asiaticus ‘ the latter being the causal agent of HLB. Because the B. cockerelli – Ca. L. solanacearum complex is associated with herbaceous as opposed to woody plants for HLB, we used it as a more facile and simple model system to assess RNA interference potential as a potential strategy for assessing RNAi effects in psyllids. As B. cockerelli sequence information is still limited in accessibility, we took advantage of D. citri EST sequences to amplify homologous sequences from B. cockerelli. Twenty eight sequences were successfully cloned from B. cockerelli using this method. We used hemolymph injection and developed an artificial in vitro oral acquisition feeding assay to deliver RNAi effectors to psyllids. We targeted ubiquitously-expressed and gut-abundant mRNAs by using double-stranded RNAs and siRNAs and were able to induce mortality in recipient psyllids. We also showed knockdown of target mRNAs, and that oral acquisition resulted primarily in mRNA knockdown in the psyllid gut. Concurrent with gene knockdown was the accumulation of target specific ~ 21 nucleotide siRNAs for an abundant mRNA for BC-Actin thereby confirming that effects observed were due to RNAi activity. We also evaluated plant virus-based expression systems as a strategy for more rapid assessment of anti-psyllid RNAi effects after feeding on plants. We showed knockdown of target BC-ATPase mRNAs by using a Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) vector, but not when using the Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) or Potato virus X (PVX) vectors. We compared using tomato, tomatillo and tobacco plants, and found that like for in vitro feeding, the RNAi effects primarily were observed in the psyllid gut. We also evaluated a leaf disc feeding assay using psyllid nymphs, which resulted in most efficient silencing effects. Feeding psyllids and allowing them to reproduce on TMV-ATPase tomatillo plants also caused a decrease in number of psyllid progeny. These results showed that RNAi can be achieved by plant expression of silencing sequence in psyllids, and the TMV-plant system provided a faster and somewhat convenient method for screening of suitable psyllid RNAi target mRNAs. We have generated transgenic potato plants for hairpin expression of BC-Actin and BC-ATPase by pCB2004B gateway vector, and we are evaluating these plants for silencing effects on the psyllids which feed on the plants. These are 35S promoter based systems and we have now also made constructs using a phloem-specific promoter. In conclusion, we have clearly demonstrated RNAi effects in the tomato psyllid, and used different delivery approaches. We have identified several effective candidate sequences for RNA interference and are moving to evaluating these in transgenic plants.
The goal of this project was to provide a better understanding of the interaction between ACP and Las in order to develop more effective approaches for managing HLB spread. One objective that has been completed was to determine if any seasonality of disease spread occurs. Monthly sampling of psyllid populations (>100,000 ACP total) showed that there is indeed some seasonality to incidence of ACP carrying Las that is likely tied to the presence of new flush from which psyllid acquire the pathogen when feeding for extended durations as nymphs. However, our results suggest that once HLB incidence is high in an area (large number of infected trees) the likelihood of ACP moving the pathogen to nearby non-infected trees is greatly increased such that failure to control ACP at any time of the year will result in additional HLB spread. Two manuscripts relating to this objective are nearing completion for publication this year. A second objective was to examine the factors responsible for transmission of Las by ACP. The first part of this work has been published (Pelz-Stelinski et. al 2010). Briefly this paper demonstrated pathogen acquisition is greatest by nymphs, low rates of transovarial transmission can occur, and rate of successful inoculation of healthy plants with Las increases with increasing vector feeding. Additional studies have continued examining the latency period of Las in ACP nymphs and adults and we are currently analyzing data from this study. We also previously reported that ACP survival decreases when the insects are infected with Las. A series of experiments have been completed to assess the effect of plant infection status on the survival of adult ACP. In experiments to determine the effect of Las on ACP fitness, we have determined that nymphs reared on Las-infected plants develop faster than nymphs reared on healthy plants and that there are no differences in fertility among infected and healthy ACP. A manuscript describing the results of these experiments has been prepared and will be submitted in the next month. Experiments to assess ACP suitability as a host for Las by examining the effect of endosymbionts on ACP survival and pathogen transmission were initiated. Breeding lines of ACP with and without Wolbachia, are being reared to determine whether there is a genetic basis for vector efficiency. Currently, we are testing ACP to confirm endosymbiont infection status in individual ACP lines prior to moving forward with transmission experiments. We continue to explore removal of all endosymbionts from ACP via microinjections of antibiotics, but have had only limited success with a small number of insects using tetracyline. In depth studies of ACP feeding behavior were conducted using an EPG monitor with the goal of developing a better understanding of the biology of psyllid feeding behavior and how insecticides can be used to disrupt pathogen transmission. Most the results from this objective have previously been reported on and have been published in a dissertation by Serikawa 2011. The first of seven manuscripts from this dissertation on the effects of imidacloprid on psyllid feeding behavior has been accepted for publication with additional publications forthcoming.
The overall goal of this two year project was to gain a better understanding of how we can use the tools currently available to protect young trees from becoming HLB infected prior to reaching bearing age. First, in addition to soil-applied imidacloprid, we also demonstrated that thiamethoxam and clothianidin provide the same level of psyllid feeding disruption (prevent HLB transmission). In the field, we examined the duration of control provided by these products when applied as a soil drench versus trunk applications. The initial rationale for testing trunk applications was based on reports from South Africa claiming 6 months control of Trioza erytreae using trunk applications of Confidor (imidacloprid). In our trials using the same product and per tree rate used in SA, we did not observe such a long duration of control, in fact, trunk applications using our labeled products worked better than the Confidor product. Since this initial trial, we conducted three additional trials comparing varying rates of soil vs trunk applications of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. Results demonstrate equivalent (in some instances slightly better) control provided by the trunk applications. After three successive trunk treatments to the same trees, thus far, no phytotoxicity has been observed. Leaf samples are still being analyzed from these experiments to compare residue levels with observed control in the field. In multi-year trial initiated as part of this grant, we established a 10-acre block of Valencia orange and overlayed different season-long programs to determine which approach would provide the best protection from HLB from the time of planting to bearing age. The treatments compared include use of soil-applied systemics, foliar insecticides and psyllid deterrent compounds. This planting has only been underway 11 months at this point so no conclusions can be made thus far. As part of CRDF funding obtained for the next 3 years, we will be continuing this work which includes assessing psyllid and leafminer populations in these plots, pesticide residue levels, and PCR of trees to compare HLB infection rates between treatments. In laboratory studies, we have demonstrated in choice tests that the deterrent compound reduces psyllid infestation of treated plants by at least 6 fold. Additionally, EPG analysis of psyllid feeding behavior has demonstrated significant feeding disruption resulting in total absence of any phloem feeding behaviors. Our work provided evidence for the likely mechanism for this feeding disruption. This work with additional new objectives will be continued in the subsequent grant funding. We also initiated a multi-year field experiment designed to test whether there is any benefit to continuing to control psyllids on trees that are already HLB infected. Healthy field grown (caged) trees were infested with Las (+) or (-) psyllids. With some plot receiving a one time infestation and others repeated infestation, we will be continuing to evaluate tree decline as it relates to number of HLB inoculation events, thus supporting or refuting the idea that psyllid control will slow the decline of already infected trees. This objective will continue over the next 3 years in subsequent funding. A multi year trial examining the effects of climate (time of year) on the efficacy of pesticide applications was initiated. Results thus far have shown significant differences in duration of psyllid control based on time of year, but little effect of climate in terms of one product performing better than another at differing times of the year. Additional work on this objective will also be continued in the coming year.
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