PROGRESS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY SPECIFIC TO GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER EGG PROTEIN: A TOOL FOR PREDATOR GUT ANALYSIS AND EARLY DETECTION OF PEST INFESTATION

• Author(s): Costa, Heather; Daane, Kent; Hagler, James;
• Abstract: Effective control of glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) will require an integrated pest management approach. A major component of true integrated pest management is the exploitation of the pests natural enemies, which, when utilized to their greatest potential, can also increase the effectiveness of chemical, mechanical, and cultural control. Unfortunately, very little information exists on predaceous enemies of GWSS. Evidence of predation on GWSS has been observed in the field (JRH, pers. obs.); however, the GWSS predator complex and its impact on GWSS mortality are unknown. A useful technique for identifying a pests natural enemy complex is through the use of predator gut content immunoassays employing pest-specific antibodies (Greenstone 1996). Over the past decade we have developed a library of MAbs specific to the egg stage of Lygus hesperus, Pectinophora gossypiella, and Bemisia argentifolii (Hagler et al. 1991, 1993, 1994) for use in studying egg and adult female predation in the field (Hagler et al. 1992; Hagler and Naranjo 1994a,b). Our MAb library provided an avenue to qualitatively identify and assess the impact of over a dozen predator species on populations of key insect pests; provided a quick, efficient, and cost effective technique for screening numerous predators in a conservation biological control program (Hagler & Naranjo, 1994a,b; Hagler, 2002); and provided a method to compare the efficacy of in vitro-reared predators with that of their wild counterparts in an augmentative biological control program (Hagler and Naranjo 1996). Attempts to monitor GWSS populations and their natural enemies in Southern California are complicated by the presence of a native species of sharpshooter, the smoke tree sharpshooter (STSS), Homalodisca lacerta. The eggs of this species are virtually indistinguishable by the naked eye from GWSS eggs. Thus it is difficult to separate the relative rates of predation and parasitism of GWSS and STSS in areas where these two species overlap. The similarity also prohibits positive identification of GWSS eggs intercepted during quarantine inspections of plant shipments. A pest-specific MAb can be used to accurately identify pests that are difficult to differentiate visually. For example, Greenstone (1995) developed an eggspecific MAb diagnostic test that differentiates Heliothis virescens from H. zea. Pest control advisors have used this MAb in a squashblot immunoassay to rapidly and positively screen field collected eggs. Early detection of H. virescens infestations is critical for effective and environmentally sound pest management. A MAb specific to GWSS egg would be an invaluable tool for early monitoring of pest infestation and decision-making in pesticide application. To date, we have developed a series of antibodies specific to GWSS. In this report we describe the antibodies that are currently available for mass screening the GWSS predator complex.
• Publication Date: Dec 2002
• Journal: 2002 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium