Diaphorina citri is currently recognized as a significant threat to citriculture worldwide. It is considered the primary vector for Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. In Puerto Rico, HLB was first reported in 2001, which started to cause concern in the agriculture industry because the citric-infected produce were smaller, misshaped, and bitter. Ultimately, this resulted in the death of citrus trees and a decline in their produce. While there is no known cure for HLB, previous studies have demonstrated that (E)-β-caryophyllene serves as a natural repellent for D. citri, and its release into crops poses no environmental risk. Therefore, the use of a natural repellent (E)-β-caryophyllene system may provide an alternative strategy to safeguard the citrus trees from D. citri. The objective of this project is to evaluate the behavior of Diaphorina citri exposed to the vapors of a (E)-β-caryophyllene gel in a controlled environment. A custom-designed plastic box will house a small citrus plant with the repellent gel at one end and the psyllid's at the opposite end, allowing for the observation of its psyllid’s behavior in a controlled setting. Initial tests will be conducted over a seven-day period to determine the duration and effectiveness of the gel's repellent properties. The experiments will assess: 1) the psyllid migration patterns, measuring their proximity to the plant and repellent-gel, to establish the effective radius of the repellent; 2) the number of psyllids migrating toward the tree to calculate the percentage effectiveness of the repellent; and 3) the highest repellency period to determine the time-frame of effective repellency. These results aim to enhance our understanding of the behavior of Diaphorina citri and its tolerance towards β-caryophyllene, to improve the quality of the crops and decrease the economic impact of the loss of citric produce caused by HLB.

Favián Acevedo-Caro

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