scholarly journals Mortality of Potato Psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) on Host Clippings Inoculated With Ergot Alkaloids

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (5) ◽  
pp. 2079-2085
Author(s):  
Navneet Kaur ◽  
W Rodney Cooper ◽  
Jennifer M Duringer ◽  
Arash Rashed ◽  
Ismael E Badillo-Vargas ◽  
...  

Abstract Our previous study provided correlative evidence that morning glory species harboring endophytic fungi (Periglandula) are resistant to potato psyllid [Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc)], whereas species free of fungi often allowed psyllid development. In this study, we manipulated levels of ergot alkaloids in host tissues by inoculating clippings from potato plants with extracts from morning glories that harbor Periglandula [Ipomoea leptophylla Torrey, Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Grisebach, Ipomoea tricolor Cavanilles, Ipomoea pandurata (L.) G. F. Meyer, and Turbina corymbosa (L.)] and one species (Ipomoea alba L.) that does not harbor the endophyte. Ergot alkaloids (clavines, lysergic acid amides, and ergopeptines) were detected in potato clippings, thus confirming that leaves had taken up compounds from solutions of crude extracts. Psyllid mortality rates on inoculated clippings ranged between 53 and 93% in treatments producing biochemically detectable levels of alkaloids, when compared with 15% mortality in water controls or the alkaloid-free I. alba. We then tested synthetic analogs from each of the three alkaloid classes that had been detected in the crude extracts. Each compound was assayed by inoculating clippings of two host species (potato and tomato) at increasing concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 µg/ml in solution). Psyllids exhibited a large and significant increase in mortality rate beginning at the lowest two concentrations, indicating that even very small quantities of these chemicals led to mortality. Feeding by nymphs on artificial diets containing synthetic compounds resulted in 100% mortality within 48 h, irrespective of compound. Further testing of ergot alkaloids to characterize the mode of action that leads to psyllid mortality is warranted.

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 988-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don C Henne ◽  
Jenita Thinakaran

Abstract Insect abundance is commonly recorded in the form of discrete counts taken from plants. Analyses of these counts provide information about spatial distributions and population structure. A study was conducted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas during April and May 2014 to determine how populations of potato psyllids [Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc)] within three potato fields change over time. It was found that potato psyllid populations in these potato fields frequently changed both spatially and temporally. Chi-square goodness of fit tests and Akaike’s Information Criterion indicated that the frequency distributions of potato psyllid counts conformed to a negative binomial distribution, implying an aggregated spatial pattern. Variance–mean ratios were always much larger than one, also implying spatially clumped populations. However, with a few exceptions, a Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs analysis showed that potato psyllid counts were mostly random in space, the clumping generally occurring on individual potato plants and rarely involving groups of potato plants in close proximity. Trends in proportions of plants infested by at least one potato psyllid and the clumping parameter k were similar for all three potato fields. Potato psyllid spatial population structure is a dynamic process that involves continuous adult movements leading to substantial redistribution of potato psyllids over limited time spans of 2 to 3 d. By capturing elements of their spatial and temporal patterns of redistribution, the study reported here is a step towards a better understanding of the population dynamics and movement of potato psyllids.


Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rehman ◽  
J. C. Melgar ◽  
J. M. Rivera C. ◽  
A. M. Idris ◽  
J. K. Brown

From 2006 to 2009, all commercial potato fields in Azacualpa F.M. Honduras were heavily infested with the potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc.). Plants exhibited interveinal chlorosis, vein-greening, downward curling, stunting, above ground tuber formation, and brownish flecks in some tubers. Disease incidence ranged from 50 to 95%. Leaf samples and psyllids were collected from seven fields in two potato-growing regions of Honduras. Total DNA was purified from the leaves of 30 symptomatic and three asymptomatic plants. DNA was extracted from 20 adult and 10 immature (4th to 5th instar) psyllids according to Frohlich et al (1). PCR primers, PSY680F 5′-GTTCGGAATAACTGGGCGTA-3′ and PSY1R 5′-CCCATAAGGGCCATGAGGACT-3′, were used to amplify a 680-bp fragment of the 16S rDNA for the recently described “Candidatus Liberibacter physallaurous” (2) and “Ca. L. solanacearum” (3). PSY1R/PSY680F primer design was based on the association of a previously undescribed liberibacter with vein-greening symptoms in greenhouse tomato plants in Arizona from 2006 to 2007 (GenBank Accession No. GQ926918) that lead to the hypothesis that a similar bacterium could be associated with symptomatic potato plants in Honduras. PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing of the resultant 16S rDNA amplicons indicated that 17 of 30 potato plants, 8 of 20 adult and 7 of 10 third to fourth instar psyllids, respectively, were positive for liberibacter based on 99 to 100% shared nucleotide sequence (nt) identity with the analogous sequence from liberibacter (EU812558 [2]). To substantiate these results, a second molecular marker was targeted using the 1611F and 480R primers (~980 bp) that amplify the 16S-23S-ITSrDNA of liberibacter (2) for selected liberibacter-positive samples (above). Amplicons of the expected size were obtained from 12 of 17 potato and 7 of 10 immature psyllids. No PCR product of the expected size was obtained from asymptomatic potato samples or the PCR negative (water) control. The resultant PCR amplicons were cloned and 12 to 15 clones per amplicon were sequenced. The sequences were aligned and the percentage pair wise nt identity was calculated by Clustal W revealing that the 16S rDNA and 16S-23S-ITS sequences, respectively, shared 99 to 100% nt identity with each other. BLAST analysis against the NCBI database indicated that the 16S rRNA sequences from potato plants (GQ926922) and immature psyllids (GQ926923), and the 16S-ITS-23S sequence from potato plants (GQ926924) and immature psyllids (GQ926925), shared 98.5 to 100% nt identity with ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ reported from potato (EU812556; [2,4]) and tomato (EU812558, EU812559, EU935005; [2,3]). Evidence for the widespread presence of liberibacter and the potato psyllid in potato fields in Honduras, together with foliar and tuber symptoms that are reminiscent of those recently described in potato plants in the United States affected with ‘zebra chip’ disease (4), suggest that a similar or identical disease of the potato also occurs in Honduras. This emergent disease poses a serious threat to potato production in Honduras and elsewhere in Central America. References: (1) D. R. Frohlich et al., Mol. Ecol. 8:1683, 1999. (2) A. K. Hansen et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78:5862, 2008. (3) L. W. Liefting et al. Plant Dis. 93:208, 2009. (4) J. E. Munyaneza et al. J. Econ. Entomol. 100:656, 2007.


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 292-292
Author(s):  
N. Jorgensen ◽  
N.M. Taylor ◽  
N.A. Berry ◽  
R.C. Butler

The tomato/potato psyllid (TPP) Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera Triozidae) has been regarded as a significant pest of solanaceous crops in New Zealand since its discovery in 2006 Current management of TPP relies primarily on the use of insecticides A better understanding of the role of beneficial insects in the control of TPP is needed to guide future Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies In Canterbury 201011 the seasonal abundance of TPP and beneficial insects was monitored in a lowspray potato crop using yellow sticky traps and incrop plant assessments The brown lacewing (Micromus tasmaniae) was the most abundant beneficial insect encountered followed by ladybird species (Adalia bipunctata and Coccinella undecimpunctata) Numbers of adult brown lacewings and ladybirds peaked on sticky traps in December 2010 while adult TPP numbers peaked in February 2011 Brown lacewing eggs were present on potato plants throughout the season with the highest numbers found during January/early February 2011 Numbers of all life stages of TPP were highest on potato plants from mid January to the end of the monitoring period in mid February 2011 (crop sprayoff)


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Kaur ◽  
W.R. Cooper ◽  
J.M. Duringer ◽  
I.E. Badillo-Vargas ◽  
G. Esparza-Díaz ◽  
...  

AbstractPlant species in the family Solanaceae are the usual hosts of potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae). However, the psyllid has also been shown to develop on some species of Convolvulaceae (bindweeds and morning glories). Developmental success on Convolvulaceae is surprising given the rarity of psyllid species worldwide associated with this plant family. We assayed 14 species of Convolvulaceae across four genera (Convolvulus, Calystegia, Ipomoea, Turbina) to identify species that allow development of potato psyllid. Two populations of psyllids were assayed (Texas, Washington). The Texas population overlaps extensively with native Convolvulaceae, whereas Washington State is noticeably lacking in Convolvulaceae. Results of assays were overlain on a phylogenetic analysis of plant species to examine whether Convolvulaceae distantly related to the typical host (potato) were less likely to allow development than species of Convolvulaceae more closely related. Survival was independent of psyllid population and location of the plant species on our phylogenetic tree. We then examined whether presence of a fungal symbiont of Convolvulaceae (Periglandula spp.) affected psyllid survival. These fungi associate with Convolvulaceae and produce a class of mycotoxins (ergot alkaloids) that may confer protection against plant-feeding arthropods. Periglandula was found in 11 of our 14 species, including in two genera (Convolvulus, Calystegia) not previously known to host the symbiont. Of these 11 species, leaf tissues from five contained large quantities of two classes of ergot alkaloids (clavines, amides of lysergic acid) when evaluated by LC-MS/MS. All five species also harbored Periglandula. No ergot alkaloids were detected in species free of the fungal symbiont. Potato psyllid rapidly died on species found to harbor Periglandula and fungus-produced alkaloids, but survived on species in which the mutualism was absent. These results support the hypothesis that a plant-fungus symbiotic relationship affects the suitability of certain Convolvulaceae to potato psyllid.


2016 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Cicero ◽  
T. W. Fisher ◽  
J. K. Brown

The potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli is implicated as the vector of the causal agent of zebra chip of potato and vein-greening of tomato diseases. Until now, visual identification of bacteria in the genus ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ has relied on direct imaging by light and electron microscopy without labeling, or with whole-organ fluorescence labeling only. In this study, aldehyde fixative followed by a coagulant fixative, was used to process adult psyllids for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) colloidal gold in situ hybridization experiments. Results indicated that ‘Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum’ (CLso)-specific DNA probes annealed to a bacterium that formed extensive, monocultural biofilms on gut, salivary gland, and oral region tissues, confirming that it is one morphotype of potentially others, that is rod-shaped, approximately 2.5 µm in diameter and of variable length, and has a rough, granular cytosol. In addition, CLso, prepared from shredded midguts, and negatively stained for TEM, possessed pili- and flagella-like surface appendages. Genes implicating coding capacity for both types of surface structures are encoded in the CLso genome sequence. Neither type was seen for CLso associated with biofilms within or on digestive organs, suggesting that their production is stimulated only in certain environments, putatively, in the gut during adhesion leading to multiplication, and in hemolymph to afford systemic invasion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley T. Beaulieu ◽  
Daniel G. Panaccione ◽  
Quynh N. Quach ◽  
Katy L. Smoot ◽  
Keith Clay

AbstractHeritable microorganisms play critical roles in life cycles of many macro-organisms but their prevalence and functional roles are unknown for most plants. Bioactive ergot alkaloids produced by heritable Periglandula fungi occur in some morning glories (Convolvulaceae), similar to ergot alkaloids in grasses infected with related fungi. Ergot alkaloids have been of longstanding interest given their toxic effects, psychoactive properties, and medical applications. Here we show that ergot alkaloids are concentrated in four morning glory clades exhibiting differences in alkaloid profiles and are more prevalent in species with larger seeds than those with smaller seeds. Further, we found a phylogenetically-independent, positive correlation between seed mass and alkaloid concentrations in symbiotic species. Our findings suggest that heritable symbiosis has diversified among particular clades by vertical transmission through seeds combined with host speciation, and that ergot alkaloids are particularly beneficial to species with larger seeds. Our results are consistent with the defensive symbiosis hypothesis where bioactive ergot alkaloids from Periglandula symbionts protect seeds and seedlings from natural enemies, and provide a framework for exploring microbial chemistry in other plant-microbe interactions.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1073
Author(s):  
Xiao-Tian Tang ◽  
Cecilia Tamborindeguy

Autophagy, also known as type II programmed cell death, is a cellular mechanism of “self-eating”. Autophagy plays an important role against pathogen infection in numerous organisms. Recently, it has been demonstrated that autophagy can be activated and even manipulated by plant viruses to facilitate their transmission within insect vectors. However, little is known about the role of autophagy in the interactions of insect vectors with plant bacterial pathogens. ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) is a phloem-limited Gram-negative bacterium that infects crops worldwide. Two Lso haplotypes, LsoA and LsoB, are transmitted by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli and cause damaging diseases in solanaceous plants (e.g., zebra chip in potatoes). Both LsoA and LsoB are transmitted by the potato psyllid in a persistent circulative manner: they colonize and replicate within psyllid tissues. Following acquisition, the gut is the first organ Lso encounters and could be a barrier for transmission. In this study, we annotated autophagy-related genes (ATGs) from the potato psyllid transcriptome and evaluated their expression in response to Lso infection at the gut interface. In total, 19 ATGs belonging to 17 different families were identified. The comprehensive expression profile analysis revealed that the majority of the ATGs were regulated in the psyllid gut following the exposure or infection to each Lso haplotype, LsoA and LsoB, suggesting a potential role of autophagy in response to Lso at the psyllid gut interface.


2014 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 184-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Davidson ◽  
R.C. Butler ◽  
N.M. Taylor ◽  
M-C. Nielsen ◽  
C.E. Sansom ◽  
...  

Bactericera cockerelli (tomato potato psyllid; TPP) is an important pest of solanaceous crops in New Zealand and North America A volatile compound that alters the behaviour of TPP could be developed into a component of an integrated pest management strategy for solanaceous crops One compound 2undecanone was found to increase the percentages of female and male TPP (65 P


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Crosslin ◽  
Joseph E. Munyaneza ◽  
Judith K. Brown ◽  
Lia W. Liefting

Potato zebra chip (ZC) disease is a relative newcomer to the world of important potato diseases. First reported in Mexico in the 1990s, by 2004-2005 the disease was causing serious economic damage in parts of Texas. ZC is now widespread in the south-western and central United States, Mexico, Central America, and was recently reported in New Zealand. By 2006, there seemed to be an association between ZC and the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli). The exact nature of the relationship, however, has only recently been identified by the discovery of a new Candidatus Liberibacter bacterium that is transmitted to potatoes, tomatoes, and other solanaceous hosts by the potato psyllid. This review examines the history of this disease, the association of ZC with the potato psyllid, the host range, and recent research into the bacterial pathogen. Accepted for publication 15 December 2009. Published 17 March 2010.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document