What is it about?
'Tristeza' is a viral disease of citrus that cause huge crop losses around the world. Another important disease is citrus 'Hualongbing', which is transmitted by an invasive bug called the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Our observations indicate Tristeza can also be transmitted by the psyllid, which makes it considerably more dangerous to citrus crops.
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Why is it important?
The fact that two important diseases would be transmitted by the same invasive pest would rank it higher in quarantine priority and field control. Furthermore, this would be the first documented case of a virus being vectored by insects of distant families, as Tristeza was previously know to come from aphids, only.
Perspectives
I grew up in Brazil, often visiting farms in the countryside. I was shown by locals the damage caused to lemon trees struck with Tristeza -- which means 'great sadness' in Portuguese. I never expected to work with the problem decades later, as a scientist specialising in a related topic. I am happy with the opportunity provided by my friend Dr. Wu (Harvey) and colleagues. Our results indicate this psyllid needs even more special attention, and the reported association with important disease virus and bacterium challenges some paradigms in host-pathogen relationships.
Dr Eduardo G P Fox
IBCCF / UFRJ
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Preliminary Report on the Acquisition, Persistence, and Potential Transmission of Citrus tristeza virus by Diaphorina citri, Insects, August 2021, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/insects12080735.
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