This is the abstract of a presentation that was made at the recent Huanglongbing Conference held in Orlando, FL. This and other paper abstracts will soon be available at: http://irchlb.org/files/33373ab0-7df3-4117-9.pdf

Spray application of different kaolin formulations on sweet orange plants disrupt the settling and probing behavior of Diaphorina citri

M. Miranda1, O. Zanardi1; H. Volpe1; R. Garcia1; N. Roda2, E. Prado3

1 Fundecitrus, Araraquara, Brazil, 2 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc./NovaSource, Phoenix, USA, 3 Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil.

Abstract: The psyllid Diaphorina citri is the vector of the bacteria associated with huanglongbing (HLB), which is the most destructive citrus disease worldwide. Chemical control is the primary tactic against this insect. However, alternative methods are important to achieve a more effective control in an integrated pest management programs. Thus, this research was carried out to assess the influence of different kaolin formulations on the settling and probing behavior of D. citri. In both studies, two wettable powder (WP) kaolin formulations (Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc./NovaSource) were sprayed three times at different concentrations on sweet orange plants. In the experiment to assess the settling behavior, three concentrations (3, 5 and 7% w/v) of both formulations were tested. A non-choice test was performed, where 16 adult psyllids were released in a cage with seedlings of the same treatment, and the number of psyllids/plant at different time intervals was counted. For the probing trial, the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique was used. Adult psyllids were monitored for 6 h on nursery citrus trees treated with two kaolin formulations at 3 and 5% w/v. The two kaolin formulations have a repellent effect on D. citri, causing an overall reduction of 40% of psyllids settled on treated seedlings compared with untreated control. Moreover, both formulations disrupt D. citri probing behavior, with a significant reduction (60%) in the proportion of psyllids that reach the phloem compared with untreated nursery citrus trees. In general, there were no differences between the kaolin formulations and among the concentrations tested in both experiments (settling and probing). Then, both formulations could be used in an integrated D. citri management program. These findings reinforce the recommendation of kaolin application on young citrus planting as a useful strategy for HLB management, mainly on the edge of the farms.

Photo:  ACP Feeding

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The recent Huanglongbing Conference in Orlando, FL was chock full of people and ideas. Some of the ideas were still in the fermentation state and some were in practice on farm. One of the ideas that has been put into practice is the use of antibiotics, such as tetracycline and streptomycin to control the bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), which causes HLB or citrus greening. This is somewhat disturbing since the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria which affects humans has been affected by the wide-spread use in animal production facilities. This has led to some food companies to discontinue the sourcing of meat from animals treated with antibiotics for non-health reasons.

Antibiotics are molecules that limit the growth or reproduction of bacteria. They come under the umbrella of bactericides which include antibiotics, but also disinfectants like bleach and copper sulfate and antiseptics like peroxide, iodine and alcohol. Antibiotics when properly used will not harm human tissue and can be derived from bacteria, fungi and synthetically and will often act directly on the bacteria that is causing the disease. Some of these molecules can be simple assemblages of amino acids called peptides (etymology “to digest”)  or strings of peptides called proteins. And sometimes they do not work on the bacteria itself, but on steps that lead up to processes that make the bacteria effective at its job.

At the conference, several papers were presented that illustrated this type of antibiotic effect. One of these papers was presented by Robert Shatters for his group. The peptide they are looking at actually inhibits the movement of the CLas bacteria in the gut of the insect, reducing or possibly preventing the transmission of the bacteria to the host plant – citrus.

The following is an abstract from the paper.

Identification of gut epithelium binding peptides that reduce systemic movement of ‘Candidatus' Liberibacter asiaticus within the Asian citrus psyllid vector

Robert G. Shatters, Jr¹, Dov Borovsky¹, El-Desouky Ammar¹, David Hall¹, Kasie Sturgeon², EricaRose Warwick², Marc Giulianotti³, Radleigh G Santos³ and Clemencia Pinilla⁴

1USDA, ARS, USHRL, Fort Pierce, FL USA; 2University of Florida, CREC, Lake Alfred, FL USA; 3Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St Lucie, FL USA; Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, San Diego, CA USA.

Non-Technical summary: The Asian citrus psyllid is the only known vector of the bacteriumthat causes citrus greening disease. This insect acquires CLas from an infected citrus tree while feeding as a nymph. Transmission to uninfected trees occurs when infected adults emerge and fly off and feed on uninfected trees. Our current understanding of the CLas-psyllid interaction suggests that adults become competent for transmission only after the bacterium moves from the insect gut into the hemolymph and then to the salivary glands. We have identified a set of small peptides that when fed to the psyllid, bind the gut membranes and reduce the ability of the citrus greening bacterium to move from the gut to the salivary glands. These peptides are now being tested to determine if they can be used as an effective way of reducing the spread of citrus greening disease.

This and other paper abstracts will soon be available at: http://irchlb.org/files/33373ab0-7df3-4117-9.pdf

photo: HLB Symptoms

Three citrus trees that produce inedible fruit at the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center in Visalia may be a game-changer for the citrus industry, reported Ezra David Romero on Valley Public Radio.

The trees are thought to be resistant to huanglongbing, a severe disease of citrus that has devastated the Florida industry and could become a serious problem in California. The citrus-saving potential of the three 34-year-old trees was outlined in an article by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources writer Hazel White in the most recent issue of California Agriculture journal.

UC Riverside citrus breeder Mikeal Roose collected seed from the trees and will test seedlings as soon as they are large enough. 

"So what (breeders) have to do is cross this with some edible varieties and eventually create something that has the gene for resistance, but also the genes for good fruit," said Beth Grafton-Cardwell, Lindcove director and research entomologist.

Huanglongbing disease has cut citrus production in Florida by more than half. It's been found in residential citrus trees in Southern California, but hasn't reached the state's vast commercial orchards yet. Grafton-Cardwell said she expects the disease will arrive in 4 or 5 years.

Yeah!!!!

The rootstocks ‘Bitters', ‘Carpenter' and ‘Furr citrandarins were developed at the USDA Date and Citrus Station in Indio, California. Having mandarin genetics with different horticultural properties and being more tolerant of calcareous soils than some other commonly used rootstocks, their effect on ‘Pixie' mandarin is being evaluated. These three are being compared to the mildly dwarfing ‘C-35' rootstock and to the standard sized ‘Citrumelo' to see how their growth might be used to control tree size, also to see how well they do in an alkaline soil. In 2014, five of each of the rootstock/'Pixie' combinations were planted in randomized blocks at two different sites on mildly alkaline soils (pH 7.3 -7.8) in the Ojai, CA area. Trees were monitored for growth on a yearly basis. At both sites ‘Citrumelo' is the largest in height with the greatest shoot length. All three of citrandarins are smaller than ‘C-35” at both sites. Shoot length is the shortest for ‘Bitters', ‘Carpenter' and ‘C-35' at both sites. At the site with the highest soil pH (7.8), two of the five ‘Bitters' show iron and zinc chlorosis. The only trees to do so.  This trial will be monitored for another five years to evaluate their performance. Growth characteristics on other varieties of citrus, such as orange and lemon will probably be the same.

Photo: A young Pixie on Bitters.