The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory Setting
With the recent introduction of the non-native spotted lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to the USA, research and concern regarding this insect is increasing. Though <i>L. delicatula</i> is able to feed on many different plant species, its preference for the invasive tre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/8/515 |
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| author | Rachel K. Brooks Ashley Toland Andrew C. Dechaine Thomas McAvoy Scott Salom |
| author_facet | Rachel K. Brooks Ashley Toland Andrew C. Dechaine Thomas McAvoy Scott Salom |
| author_sort | Rachel K. Brooks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the recent introduction of the non-native spotted lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to the USA, research and concern regarding this insect is increasing. Though <i>L. delicatula</i> is able to feed on many different plant species, its preference for the invasive tree-of-heaven (<i>Ailanthus altissima</i>) is apparent, especially during its later life stage. Therefore, management focused on <i>A. altissima</i> control to help limit <i>L. delicatula</i> establishment and population growth has become popular. Unfortunately, the control of <i>A. altissima</i> is difficult. <i>Verticillium nonalfalfae</i>, a naturally occurring vascular-wilt pathogen, has recently received attention as a potential biological control agent. Therefore, we studied if <i>L. delicatula</i> fourth instars or adults could vector <i>V. nonalfalfae</i> from infected <i>A. altissima</i> material to healthy <i>A. altissima</i> seedlings in a laboratory setting. We were unable to re-isolate <i>V. nonalfalfae</i> from the 45 <i>A. altissima</i> seedlings or from the 225 <i>L. delicatula</i> utilized in this experiment. We therefore, found no support that <i>L. delicatula</i> could effectively vector this pathogen between <i>A. altissima</i> in laboratory conditions. Since <i>L.</i><i>delicatula</i>’s ability to vector <i>V. nonalfalfae</i> has implications for the dissemination of both this beneficial biological control and other similar unwanted plant pathogens, future research is needed to confirm these findings in a field setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:43:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a1b8530bc774ea3baa1166282d4561a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:43:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a1b8530bc774ea3baa1166282d4561a2023-11-20T09:35:34ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502020-08-0111851510.3390/insects11080515The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory SettingRachel K. Brooks0Ashley Toland1Andrew C. Dechaine2Thomas McAvoy3Scott Salom4Forest Health and Resiliency Division, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA 98504, USAIntegrated Pest Prevention and Management Program, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, OR 97301, USADepartment of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USADepartment of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USADepartment of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAWith the recent introduction of the non-native spotted lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to the USA, research and concern regarding this insect is increasing. Though <i>L. delicatula</i> is able to feed on many different plant species, its preference for the invasive tree-of-heaven (<i>Ailanthus altissima</i>) is apparent, especially during its later life stage. Therefore, management focused on <i>A. altissima</i> control to help limit <i>L. delicatula</i> establishment and population growth has become popular. Unfortunately, the control of <i>A. altissima</i> is difficult. <i>Verticillium nonalfalfae</i>, a naturally occurring vascular-wilt pathogen, has recently received attention as a potential biological control agent. Therefore, we studied if <i>L. delicatula</i> fourth instars or adults could vector <i>V. nonalfalfae</i> from infected <i>A. altissima</i> material to healthy <i>A. altissima</i> seedlings in a laboratory setting. We were unable to re-isolate <i>V. nonalfalfae</i> from the 45 <i>A. altissima</i> seedlings or from the 225 <i>L. delicatula</i> utilized in this experiment. We therefore, found no support that <i>L. delicatula</i> could effectively vector this pathogen between <i>A. altissima</i> in laboratory conditions. Since <i>L.</i><i>delicatula</i>’s ability to vector <i>V. nonalfalfae</i> has implications for the dissemination of both this beneficial biological control and other similar unwanted plant pathogens, future research is needed to confirm these findings in a field setting.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/8/515<i>Verticillium nonalfalfae</i>biological controlbiopesticidetree-of-heaveninvasive species management |
| spellingShingle | Rachel K. Brooks Ashley Toland Andrew C. Dechaine Thomas McAvoy Scott Salom The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory Setting Insects <i>Verticillium nonalfalfae</i> biological control biopesticide tree-of-heaven invasive species management |
| title | The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory Setting |
| title_full | The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory Setting |
| title_fullStr | The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory Setting |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory Setting |
| title_short | The Inability of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) to Vector a Plant Pathogen between its Preferred Host, <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>, in a Laboratory Setting |
| title_sort | inability of spotted lanternfly i lycorma delicatula i to vector a plant pathogen between its preferred host i ailanthus altissima i in a laboratory setting |
| topic | <i>Verticillium nonalfalfae</i> biological control biopesticide tree-of-heaven invasive species management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/8/515 |
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