Page 16 - CFAN_Jun2014

c i t r u s
FEATURE |

New Findings

for a Greening

'TRAP PLANT'

Promising Lab Studies Show How to Stop Psyllids in Their Tracks

C

by JULIE GMITTER

CITRUS GREENING, ALSO KNOWN AS HUANGLONGBING (HLB), has been rapidly infecting citrus groves all around the world. Since the irst

detection of the disease in south Florida more than eight years ago, citrus greening is now a well-known threat, due to its particularly devastating efects in Florida. In
October of 2013, Central Florida Ag News featured a story on Dr. Nabil Killiny, Assistant Professor of Vector Entomology at the University of Florida’s Citrus Research

and Education Center; he and his team of scientists were working on a promising genetic method of disabling the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect responsible for the
continued spread of citrus greening. He and his associates now have some interesting new developments.

Using the same technique he used to induce dsRNA it is important to note that the over the tree—not just on the new
to reduce abnormal wing disk proteins in psyllids, Killiny chlorophyll isn’t lowered too lush.” He also discovered that this

is now targeting muscle protein genes. his dsRNA much, because it would decrease application works particularly well Once they start FEEDING ON
interferes with the protein production in psyllid when the richness of the phloem of the with the Citrus Microphilla cultivar.
KILLINY’S TREES, the psyllids

the pest acquires it from trees, and Killiny is proposing plant, where psyllids feed.
Ca+, a muscle contraction regulator, will be consuming a PLANT
the use of this genetic technique for “trap trees” around Once the insect has been
is detectable on a CT scan; the
GENETICALLY MODIFIED
the borders of groves. RNA interference eiciency is attracted to the “trap plants” on
accumulation of calcium shows up on with muscle proteins; hence,

much better for muscle. Upon feeding on these trees, the the borders of the groves, it will
a CT scan of psyllids, similar to the MUSCLES all over their bodies
psyllids will ultimately “be handicapped: the psyllid won’t begin to settle and feed. Psyllids
way human bones are visible on CT will be IMPAIRED.

be able to ly, eat, mate or lay eggs.”
feed on the rich, nutritious phloem
scans. his is the method Killiny used
Killiny explains that there is a three-step model for sap of citrus trees. Once they start
to verify that the muscle proteins had

stopping the psyllids in their tracks—1) Attracting the feeding on Killiny’s trees, the psyllids will be consuming been efective on the psyllid. It is important to note that
psyllid 2) Getting the psyllid to settle and feed 3) Killing a plant genetically modiied with muscle proteins; hence, these trees have been engineered to drop their blooms so

or handicapping the psyllid.
muscles all over their bodies will be impaired. Psyllids no fruit is produced. he trap trees are not intended to
hrough several experiments, Killiny determined that typically feed of of the new, tender shoots of citrus trees be used as fruit yielding trees—only as borders for groves

the Asian psyllid is most attracted to the color yellow. because they are more yellow-green in color and soter, in an efort to thwart the Asian psyllids infection and

herefore, he knew that they needed to lower the levels rather than dark green or brown and thicker like the more destruction of Florida groves. As of now, this technique is
of chlorophyll and other pigments in the leaves to make mature leaves. But through his experiments, Killiny has only being used in a lab setting but has promising future

them appear more yellow to attract the insect. However,
discovered that “they just love these trees. hey feed all
ield applications. ag

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