title: Better Together: Association With 'CandidatusLiberibacter Asiaticus' Increases the Reproductive Fitness of Its Insect Vector,Diaphorina citri(Hemiptera: Liviidae).
abstract: The duration of the evolutionary association between a pathogen and vector can be inferred based on the strength of their mutualistic interactions. A well-adapted pathogen is likely to confer some benefit or, at a minimum, exhibit low pathogenicity toward its host vector. Coevolution of the two toward a mutually beneficial association appears to have occurred between the citrus greening disease pathogen,CandidatusLiberibacter asiaticus (Las), and its insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid,Diaphorina citri(Kuwayama). To better understand the dynamics facilitating transmission, we evaluated the effects of Las infection on the fitness of its vector.Diaphorina citriharboring Las were more fecund than their uninfected counterparts; however, their nymphal development rate and adult survival were comparatively reduced. The finite rate of population increase and net reproductive rate were both greater among Las-infectedD. citrias compared with uninfected counterparts, indicating that overall population fitness of infected psyllids was improved given the greater number of offspring produced. Previous reports of transovarial transmission, in conjunction with increased fecundity and population growth rates of Las-positiveD. citrifound in the current investigation, suggest a long evolutionary relationship between pathogen and vector. The survival of Las-infected adultD. citriwas lower compared with uninfectedD. citri, which suggests that there may be a fitness trade-off in response to Las infection. A beneficial effect of a plant pathogen on vector fitness may indicate that the pathogen developed a relationship with the insect before secondarily moving to plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Nematology, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850 ( pelzstelinski@ufl.edu ; nabilkilliny@ufl.edu ), and.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Pelz-Stelinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Nematology, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850 ( pelzstelinski@ufl.edu ; nabilkilliny@ufl.edu ), and.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Killiny
keywords: Huanglongbing; Liberibacter; citrus greening; fitness