The Power of Electropenetrography in Enhancing Our Understanding of Host Plant-Vector Interactions

摘要

The invasive Asian citrus psyllid, (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is the primary vector of the phloem-infecting bacterium, Liberibacter asiaticus. L. asiaticus is the putative causal agent of Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, a destructive disease of . While many species are susceptible to probing and HLB disease, there are marked behavioral differences in probing responses and Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus infection severity among species. Using four mandarin hybrid selections and pummelo plants variably resistant to probing, oviposition, and survival, we explored probing differences using electropenetrography (EPG), conducted an oviposition and survival study, and determined host plant metabolites using gas-chromatography mass-spectroscopy (GC-MS). We found thirty-seven probing variables to be significantly different among tested mandarin selections and pummelo, in addition to differential oviposition and survivorship abilities on tested plants. We found sixty-three leaf metabolites with eight being significantly different among tested mandarin selections and pummelo. Detailed analysis of probing behavior, oviposition, survivorship, and host plant metabolite concentrations reveals the complex, layered resistance mechanisms utilized by resistant against probing. EPG is a powerful technology for screening Asian citrus psyllid resistant to elucidate host plant-vector interactions, with an aim to minimize vector probing and eliminate the spread of the bacterial pathogen, Ca. L. asiaticus.