A transmission assay of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ using citrus phloem sap and topical feeding to its insect vector, Diaphorina citri


Citation
Killiny, Jones (2024). Phytopathology®
Names (1)
Abstract
‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, the putative causal agent of citrus greening disease is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri in a propagative, circulative, and persistent manner. Unfortunately, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ is not yet available in pure culture to carry out Koch’s postulates and to confirm its etiology. When a pure culture is available, an assay to test its infectivity in both the insect vector and the plant host will be crucial. Herein, we described a transmission assay based on the use of phloem sap extracted from infected citrus plants and topical feeding to D. citri nymphs. Phloem sap was collected by centrifugation, diluted with 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4 containing 20% (w/v) sucrose and 0.1% ascorbic acid (w/v) as an antioxidant, and delivered to third through fifth instar nymphs by placing droplets on the mouthparts. Nymphs unfolded the stylets and acquired the phloem sap containing the bacterial pathogen. Nymphs were then placed onto Citrus macrophylla seedlings (ten nymphs/seedling) for an inoculation period of two weeks. A transmission rate of up to 80% was recorded at six months post-inoculation. The method could be a powerful tool to test the transmissibility of the bacterial pathogen after various treatments to reduce the viability of the bacteria or to block its transmission. In addition, it might be a potent assay to achieve Koch’s postulates if a pure culture of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ becomes available.
Authors
Publication date
2024-06-25
DOI
10.1094/phyto-05-24-0171-sc