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Pierce's Disease
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What is Pierce's Disease?

Pierce's Disease is a bacterial infection, which is spread by bugs that feed on grapevines, particularly the "glassy winged sharpshooter." Grapevines that become infected with PD can quickly become sick and die.

glassy-winged sharpshooter

EFFECT OF HOST PLANT FERTILIZATION ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY AND FEEDING PREFERENCE OF THE GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER

  • Author(s): Goolsby, John; S?tamou, Mamoudou; Patt, Joseph;
  • Abstract: The main objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of host plant fertilization on the survival, immature development, adult fecundity, and the feeding of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), a primary vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). The development biology of GWSS was studied on cowpea plants, Vigna unguiculata treated with three fertilization regimes (NPK alone, urea alone, and a combination of NPK and urea) along with a non-fertilized control. Fertilization affected cowpea plant growth, the total protein content and the profile of free amino-acids in the xylem sap. The ultimate nymphal survivorship was significantly higher on fertilized plants than on control plants. In addition, newly emerged adult weight significantly increased with fertilization; specifically, GWSS nymphs reared on plants fertilized with urea yielded adults with the highest weight. NPK fertilization significantly reduced the nymphal development period for females but not for males. Females maintained on fertilized plants showed higher oviposition frequency and number of egg masses laid compared to unfertilized plants with highest oviposition potential recorded on urea treated plants. In addition, significantly bigger egg mass sizes were obtained from fertilized plants. Consequently, GWSS populations that developed on fertilized plants and more so on urea treated plants had a higher intrinsic rate of increase compared to those developing on unfertilized control plants. In choice tests, adult GWSS showed a preference for fertilized cowpea plants. The number of GWSS adults per plant and the proportion of plants infested were significantly higher for plants that received fertilization compared to the non-fertilized control plants. However, no feeding preference was recorded for nymphs.
  • Publication Date: Dec 2005
  • Journal: 2005 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium

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