SHARPSHOOTER FEEDING BEHAVIOR IN RELATION TO TRANSMISSION OF PIERCES DISEASE BACTERIUM

• Author(s): Backus, Elaine; Bennett, William; Blua, Matthew; Civerolo, Ed; Habibi, Javad; Purcell, Alexander; Yan, Fengming;
• Abstract: Almost nothing is known of the stylet penetration (probing) behaviors of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca coagulata, and how they interact with populations of Pierces disease (PD) bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, to facilitate transmission to grapevine. The Backus project is combining the three most successful methods of studying leafhopper feeding (i.e. histology of fed-upon plant tissues, videotaping of feeding on transparent diets, and electropenetration graph [EPG] monitoring) to definitively identify all details of feeding. Both AC and DC EPG monitoring are being performed. All recorded waveforms will be correlated with stylet activities, cell types within the host plant in which activities occur, and presence or movement of X. fastidiosa in and out of the stylets. This research will provide crucial baseline information for the present projects of collaborators, as well as the future development of a Stylet Penetration Index for PD inoculation behavior, for screening differences among grapevine varieties and other uses.
• Publication Date: Dec 2002
• Journal: 2002 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium