In-Grove Spatiotemporal Spread of Citrus Huanglongbing and Its Psyllid Vector in Relation to Weather

Phytopathology. 2019 Mar;109(3):418-427. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-03-18-0089-R. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Abstract

Reports of spatial patterns of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'-infected asymptomatic citrus trees and 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) are rare, as are published relationships between huanglongbing (HLB), ACP, and weather. Here, spatial patterns of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive asymptomatic and symptomatic trees were determined every half year in a small grove over 2.5 years, and of HLB-symptomatic trees and ('Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive) ACP populations every month in two commercial groves for 1 year. Spread of symptomatic trees followed that of asymptomatic 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive trees with <6 months' delay. 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive asymptomatic and symptomatic fronts moved at 2.5 to 3.6 m month-1. No spatial relationship was detected between ACP populations and HLB-infected trees. HLB incidence and 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive ACP dynamics were tentatively positively correlated with monthly rainfall data and, to a lesser extent, with average minimum temperature.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Citrus* / metabolism
  • Hemiptera* / microbiology
  • Plant Diseases
  • Rhizobiaceae* / pathogenicity
  • Weather