Great variability in the infection rate of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ in field populations of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Florida
Keywords:
citrus greening, detection methods, geographic variability, insect vectorAbstract
Citrus growers, researchers, and policy makers are commonly interested in knowing the rate of CLas pathogen infection in populations of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Florida and elsewhere. Given that HLB is widespread across Florida, a common presumption is that nearly 100% of D. citri are currently carrying the pathogen. We investigated this presumption and found that instead, in 2014 – nearly a decade after HLB was officially detected in Florida – the rate of CLas infection in populations of D. citri varies widely between commercial citrus growing locations. Across the state, infection rates ranged from 37.5 to 100%, with an average of 68.8% (SD 25.3%). We suggest that there may be yet unknown factors responsible for the lower rates of infection found at certain sites, particularly in South Florida, that may be useful for management of this disease when determined. Our future goal is to identify the potential factors that affect CLas infection rates within field populations of D. citri across Florida under varying management practices and geographical locations.
Sumario
Los productores de cítricos, los investigadores y los elaboradores de política estan comúnmente interesados en conocer la tasa de infección por patógenos CLas en las poblaciones de Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) en Florida y en otros lugares. Puesto que la enfermedad Huanglongbing (HLB o enverdecimiento de los cítricos) es generalizada en Florida, una presunción común es que casi el 100% de D. citri lleva actualmente el patógeno. Estamos investigando esta presunción y encontramos que al contrario, en 2014 - casi una década después de HLB se detectó oficialmente en la Florida - la tasa de infección CLas en las poblaciones de D. citri varía ampliamente entre los lugares de cultivo de cítricos comerciales. En todo el estado, la tasa de infección varia desde 37.5 hasta 100%, con un promedio de 68.8% (DS 25.3%). Sugerimos que puede haber factores aún desconocidos responsables para las tasas más bajas de infección que se encuentran en ciertos sitios, sobre todo en el sur de la Florida, que pueden ser útiles para el manejo de esta enfermedad, cuando sean determinados. Nuestra meta futura es identificar los posibles factores que afectan las tasas de infección CLas dentro de las poblaciones de campo de D. citri en toda la Florida bajo diferentes prácticas de manejo y localidades geográficas.
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