Horton, David R

Abstract Bactericera maculipennis (Crawford) and Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) share hosts within the Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae (Solanales), and both are associated with “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso). Lso, transmitted by B. cockerelli, causes diseases in solanaceous crops including zebra chip disease of potato. Up to 50% of B. maculipennis adults also harbor Lso, but transmission of Lso to plants by this psyllid has not been confirmed yet. The only documented field host of B. maculipennis in the Pacific Northwest is Convolvulus arvensis L. (Convolvulaceae) but diagnostic methods fail to detect Lso in leaves of this plant. It is therefore unclear how Lso persists within B. maculipennis populations. We surveyed species of Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae for B. maculipennis and report a widespread association between B. maculipennis and Lso throughout the western United States. Diagnostic polymerase chain reaction failed to detect Lso from leaves of C. arvensis yet readily detected Lso from stems where B. maculipennis nymphs tend to feed. Bactericera maculipennis transmitted Lso to species of Convolvulaceae in greenhouse experiments, confirming vector competency. We report high rates of Lso infection in populations of both B. maculipennis and B. cockerelli occurring on C. arvensis, but occurrence of B. cockerelli on C. arvensis was limited to autumn months only and with very low populations. Results suggest C. arvensis is a non-crop reservoir of Lso but do not suggest that B. maculipennis is a direct threat to solanaceous crops or that C. arvensis is a major source of Lso-infected B. cockerelli colonizing potato fields.

Abstract The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), is a major pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.; Solanales: Solanaceae) as a vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’, the pathogen that causes zebra chip. Management of zebra chip is challenging in part because the noncrop sources of Liberibacter-infected psyllids arriving in potato remain unknown. Adding to this challenge is the occurrence of distinct genetic haplotypes of both potato psyllid and Liberibacter that differ in host range. Longleaf groundcherry (Physalis longifolia Nutt.) has been substantially overlooked in prior research as a potential noncrop source of Liberibacter-infected B. cockerelli colonizing fields of potato. The objective of this study was to assess the suitability of P. longifolia to the three common haplotypes of B. cockerelli (central, western, and northwestern haplotypes), and to two haplotypes of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ (Liberibacter A and B haplotypes). Greenhouse bioassays indicated that B. cockerelli of all three haplotypes produced more offspring on P. longifolia than on potato and preferred P. longifolia over potato during settling and egg-laying activities. Greenhouse and field trials showed that P. longifolia was also highly susceptible to Liberibacter. Additionally, we discovered that infected rhizomes survived winter and produced infected plants in late spring that could then be available for psyllid colonization and pathogen acquisition. Results show that P. longifolia is susceptible to both B. cockerelli and ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ and must be considered as a potentially important source of infective B. cockerelli colonizing potato fields in the western United States.