Incidence of Huanglongbing-Associated 'Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus' in Diaphorina Citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Collected from Plants for Sale in Florida

Authors

  • Susan E. Halbert
  • Keremane Manjunath
  • Chandrika Ramadugu
  • Richard F. Lee

Abstract

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, was reported for the first time in Florida in June 1998, and huanglongbing (HLB, citrus greening), vectored by D. citri, was detected in Florida for the first time in Aug 2005. In Florida, the only known HLB pathogen is ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Las). After HLB was known to be established in Florida, the psyllid vectors found in regulatory samples from plants for sale were tested for the pathogen by real-time qPCR. Approximately 1,200 regulatory samples were tested between Aug 2005 and Aug 2009. Samples came from venues in 44 of Florida’s 67 counties. Most of the samples came from citrus, but about 11% came from Murraya exotica, a popular ornamental plant and close relative of citrus. Approximately 9.7% of the psyllid samples tested were positive for Las. Numbers of samples and proportion of positive samples varied by year and by county.

Resumen: Diaphorina citri Kuwayama fue registrado por primera vez en la Florida en junio de 1998, y la enfermedad Huanglongbing (HLB, enverdecimiento de los cítricos) se detectó en el estado por primera vez en agosto del 2005. En Florida, el único patógeno conocido de HLB es ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (=Las). Después de que HLB se estableció en la Florida, los vectores psílidos encontrados en las muestras de las plantas reguladas para la venta fueron probados para el patógeno en tiempo real de qPCR. Aproximadamente 1,200 muestras regulatorias fueron examinadas entre agosto del 2005 y agosto del 2009. Las muestras procedian de 44 de los 67 condados de la Florida. La mayoría de las muestras procedían de cítricos, pero aproximadamente el 11% fueron de Murraya exotica, una planta ornamental popular que se relaciona con los cítricos. Aproximadamente el 9.7% de las muestras fueron positivas para el patógeno “Las”. El número de muestras y la proporción de muestras positivas variaron según el año y por condado.

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Published

2012-09-01

Issue

Vol. 95, No. 3 (September 2012)

Section

Research Papers

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