Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, 1964 (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on eucalyptus: oviposition non-preference and antibiosis

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 202; no. 2; pp. 285 - 295
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Zulene Antônio, de Souza, Bruno Henrique Sardinha, Costa, Eduardo Neves, Mendes, José Eduardo Petrilli, Mafia, Reginaldo Gonçalves, Boiça Júnior, Arlindo Leal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2015; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agroforestry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Eucalyptus; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Hemiptera; Introduced species; Leaves; Life Sciences; Lignin; Mortality; Pests; Phenols; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant resistance; Plant Sciences; Plantations; Psyllidae; Selective breeding; Trees; Red gum lerp psyllid; Lignin; Epicuticular wax; Forest plantation; Phenolics
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-014-1298-7

Forest plantations with Eucalyptus spp. (L’ Hér) in Brazil are highly yielding. However, this activity is more and more threatened due to interactions with phytophagous insects, especially by exotic species, such as the red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). This study aimed to evaluate the resistance in eucalyptus against the psyllid in oviposition and biological development assays, attempting to identify potential genotypes resistant to the pest for forest plantations. In addition, we tested the hypothesis of that concentration of total phenolics and lignin, and amount of epicuticular wax were associated with the expression of resistance. Results showed that there was variation in the levels of resistance among the genotypes assessed. Oviposition non-preference was observed on Eucalyptus citriodora (Hook) in free-choice and no-choice tests, and Clone FP 10 was least preferred in the no-choice test. The genotypes E. citriodora and Clone FP 6 provided 100 % nymphal mortality, and Clones FP 7 and FP 9 also affected negatively the G. brimblecombei development by lengthening the duration of the nymphal stage and reducing adult emergence. Clone FP 6 had higher concentration of total phenolics and larger contact angle formed between the water droplet and leaf surface, which may be associated with thicker layer of epicuticular wax on the leaves, and one of the causes of high nymphal mortality. Thus, the use of the resistant genotypes of eucalyptus screened against G. brimblecombei is a promising and viable alternative for forest plantations infested with this pest.