Association of non-host crop plants with mandarin in host location and survival of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Abstract

Research efforts have been made to develop novel tactics, such as those targeting behavioral control, for management of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), vector of the causal agent of citrus Huanglongbing. Here, we investigated whether association of “Ponkan” mandarin (Citrus reticulata) with volatiles from non-host crops: avocado, passion fruit or coffee, alters host location by the Asian citrus psyllid; and whether they can be temporary hosts for the Asian citrus psyllid. In wind tunnel assays, we found that the association of mandarin seedling with avocado plant volatiles reduced in 30% the number of psyllids sitting on host plants compared to the mandarin alone. In contrast, passion fruit plant volatiles facilitated host location by psyllids, which found mandarin seedlings faster than when exposed to mandarin alone. The association with coffee volatiles did not alter the attractiveness of mandarin to the Asian citrus psyllid. Survival and half-lethal time (LT50) of D. citri fed on non-host plants were longer than those insects with water only, but shorter than those fed on mandarin. Among the non-host plants, D. citri performed better in coffee, followed by avocado and passion fruit plants. Our results indicate that the association of mandarin with avocado plant can be beneficial for Asian citrus psyllid management.