Bacterial plant pathogens affect the locomotor behavior of the insect vector: a case study of Citrus volkameriana-Triozae erytreae-Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus system

Plant pathogens can alter the behavior of their insect vectors as well as their survival and reproduction. The African psyllid, Trioza erytreae, is one of the vectors of Huanglongbing, a citrus disease caused mainly by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of CLas on the psyllid, T. erytreae using Citrus volkamerina plants as the study system. The study focused more specifically on the CLas effects prior to and after its acquisition by the psyllid T. erytreae. Our results did not support the hypothesis that CLas effects psyllid probing behavior prior to acquisition; few differences were observed between uninfected T. erytrea feeding on CLas-infected versus control plants. On the other hand, compared to psyllids that had completed their development on control plants, the ones that had completed their development on a CLas-infected plant exhibited changes in their behavior (greater velocity), physiology (smaller mass) and biochemistry (lower water and lipid content). Altogether, our results confirm the existence of a marked postacquisition effect on the vector locomotor behavior and a minor preacquisition effect of CLas on the vector behavior, which can be partially explained by physiological and biochemical changes.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the pathogen causing Huanglongbing, on the behavior, physiology, and biochemistry of the African psyllid, Trioza erytreae. The results showed minimal effects on the psyllid's probing behavior prior to acquisition of CLas, but significant changes in behavior, physiology, and biochemistry were observed in psyllids that completed their development on CLas-infected plants.