Efficiency of cultural and physical management in the dispersion of Diaphorina citri and huanglongbing management

Abstract

Chemical control is currently the most widely used tactic for the management of Diaphorina citri, even with frequent applications, primary infections of huanglongbing (HLB) are not completely prevented, requiring the development of alternative measures more sustainable for the disease management. Cultural (plant traps) and physical (processed kaolin-based particle film) control tactics have great potential to prevent or reduce the dispersion of D. citri and consequently the dissemination of HLB-associated bacteria. The objective of this activity plan is to assess the effect on the D. citri and HLB dissemination, using Murraya paniculata as trap crop, and processed kaolin as a physical barrier in different citrus physiological conditions. The results will be obtained from dispersion studies with marked and natural populations of D. citri, HLB incidence, and citrus yields, performed in each treatment. The experiments will be performed in experimental areas and commercial orchards with chemical control of the vector.