112
XVIII Conference of the IOCV
43. MONITORING THE POPULATION OF DIAPHORINA CITRI (HEMIPTERA: PSYLLIDAE)
AND OF CANDIDATUS LIBERIBACTER BACTERIA IN CITROS PRODUCTION REGIONS
IN BAHIA
Cyntia Santiago Anjos Duarte1; Cristiane de Jesus Barbosa2; Antonio Souza do Nascimento2;
Eduardo Chumbinho de Andrade2; Karina Vieira Chiacchio Velame2; Suely Xavier de Brito Silva3
Empresa Baiana de Desenvolvimento Agrícola, Av. Adhemar de Barros, 967, Ondina,
Salvador, BA, CEP 40170-110;
2
Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura , Rua Embrapa, s/nº. Cruz das Almas, BA, Brasil, CEP
44380-000;
3
Agência Estadual de Defesa Agropecuária da Bahia, Av. Adhemar de Barros, 967, Ondina,
CEP: 40170-110.
1
Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama) is the vector of the phloem-limited bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter
asiaticus and Candidatus Liberibacter americanus, causal agents of huanglongbing (HLB). HLB
is one of the main phytosanitary problems affecting citriculture worldwide. Brazil’s Bahia State
is the second largest national orange producer and presents a huanglongbing free area status.
Reaching and maintaining this important phytosanitary condition is due to integrated prevention
measures among orange producers and Research and Defense departments. Aiming to prevent
the dissemination and the control of HLB, the objective of the present work was to carry out
the monitoring of the D. citri population and evaluate the occurrence of their natural enemies
in nurseries and botanical gardens of the main producing regions or in new citrus areas in the
State of Bahia, as well as analyze samples of this psyllidae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),
using specific oligonucleotides for the detection of the Ca L. asiaticus and Ca. L. americanus
pathogens. The insect vector was found in eight of the 13 counties visited and the tests carried
out for the detection of the pathogens did not present positive results. Despite the fact that the
psyllidae infected with the pathogens was not detected, these results enabled the identification
of the broadness of the occurrence of D. citri, representing a threat to the dissemination of HLB
in the State of Bahia. Registration of the occurrence of a parasitoid indicates its possible use in
the biological control of the vector, aiming sustainable maintenance of the citriculture.
Citrus Research & Technology, Cordeirópolis, v.31, Suplemento, p.1-129, 2010