Publications

3807

AbstractAster Yellows phytoplasma (AYp; Candidatus (Ca.) Phytoplasma asteris) is an obligate bacterial pathogen that is the causative agent of multiple diseases in herbaceous plants. While this phytoplasma has been examined in depth for its disease characteristics, knowledge about the spatial and temporal dynamics of pathogen spread is lacking. The phytoplasma is found in plant’s phloem and is vectored by leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Hemiptera), including the aster leafhopper, Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes. The aster leafhopper is a migratory insect pest that overwinters in the southern United States, and historical data suggest these insects migrate from southern overwintering locations to northern latitudes annually, transmitting and driving phytoplasma infection rates as they migrate. A more in-depth understanding of the spatial, temporal and genetic determinants of Aster Yellows disease progress will lead to better integrated pest management strategies for Aster Yellows disease control. Carrot, Daucus carota L., plots were established at two planting densities in central Wisconsin and monitored during the 2018 growing season for Aster Yellows disease progression. Symptomatic carrots were sampled and assayed for the presence of the Aster Yellows phytoplasma. Aster Yellows disease progression was determined to be significantly associated with calendar date, crop density, location within the field, and phytoplasma subgroup.

The psyllids Cacopsylla melanoneura and Cacopsylla picta reproduce on apple (Malus × domestica) and transmit the bacterium ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’, the causative agent of apple proliferation. Adult psyllids were collected by the beating-tray method from lower and upper parts of the apple tree canopy in the morning and in the afternoon. There was a trend of catching more emigrant adults of C.melanoneura in the morning and in the lower part of the canopy. For C.melanoneura remigrants, no differences were observed. The findings regarding the distribution of adults were reflected by the number of nymphs collected by wash-down sampling. The density of C.picta was too low for a statistical analysis. The vector monitoring and how it is commonly performed, is suitable for estimating densities of C.melanoneura. Nevertheless, above a certain temperature threshold, prediction of C.melanoneura density might be skewed. No evidence was found that other relatively abundant psyllid species in the orchard, viz. Baeopelma colorata, Cacopsylla breviantennata, Cacopsylla brunneipennis, Cacopsylla pruni and Trioza urticae, were involved in ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ transmission. The results of our study contribute to an advanced understanding of insect vector behavior and thus have a practical impact for an improved field monitoring.

The bacterial pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) is transmitted by the tomato potato psyllid (TPP), Bactericera cockerelli, to solanaceous crops. In the present study, the changes in metabolic profiles of insect-susceptible (cv CastleMart) and resistant (RIL LA3952) tomato plants in response to TPP vectoring Lso or not, were examined after 48 h post infestation. Non-volatile and volatile metabolites were identified and quantified using headspace solid-phase microextraction equipped with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) and ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-HR-QTOFMS), respectively. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to define the major uncorrelated metabolite components assuming the treatments as the correlated predictors. Metabolic changes in various classes of metabolites, including volatiles, hormones, and phenolics, were observed in resistant and susceptible plants in response to the insects carrying the pathogen or not. The results suggest the involvement of differentially regulated and, in some cases, implicates antagonistic metabolites in plant defensive signaling. Upon validation, the identified metabolites could be used as markers to screen and select breeding lines with enhanced resistance to reduce economic losses due to the TPP-Lso vector-pathogen complex in Solanaceous crops.

Abstract Background: Ehrlichia is a genus of Rickettsiales bacteria closely related to human/animal disease and it plays an important role in public health. Naturally they are hosted by mammals such as canines, bovines, wild rodents and vectored by ticks. Results: In this study, we collected 121 rodent samples including 67 Niviventer fulvescens, 27 Rattus tanezumi, 24 Chiromyscus sp., 2 Rattus nitidus and 1 Leopoldamys edwardsi from Hainan province, which consists of the second largest island in China. The presence and genetic diversity of Ehrlichia was evaluated and characterized by amplifying and sequencing the 16S rRNA, groEL and gltA genes. An Ehrlichia was detected in 5 of the 67 Niviventer fulvescens samples (7.46%). The 16S rRNA, groEL and gltA genes show highest 99.20%, 89.87% and 83.86% identity to known Ehrlichia sequences. In the phylogenetic trees they form a distinct cluster from any other species.Conclusions: We propose that this Ehrlichia present a putative novel species nominated as ‘Candidatus Ehrlichia hainanensis’. Its pathogenicity to human is still to be further researched and molecular surveillance in local populations is needed.