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Researchers from the School of Agronomists of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) have presented in Seville the genome of the African citrus psila (Trioza erytreae) to fight against this new plague that affects the citrus of the peninsula since 2014. Researchers from the Crop Protection group of the UPCT, Dina Cifuentes and Pablo Bielza, have identified a set of genes involved in the mechanisms for generating resistance to insecticides.

This will allow early detection of the development of insecticide resistance of this pest.

Citrus Psila Africana can cause a weakening of the tree and a decrease in the quality and quantity of its production.

In addition, these insects can transmit to the trees a disease known as 'greening', which is caused by bacteria and can end the death of the tree.

At present, there is only one authorized phytosanitary product for this pest.

The UPCT researchers, Dina Cifuentes and Pablo Bielza, presented to the researchers of six Spanish institutions the advances in the management of resistance of Trioza erytreae to the insecticides that will be used for their control, which is another of the fundamental aspects of the strategy of Rational management with insecticides.

The progress of this research was presented at the coordination meeting of the project “Control and containment methods of Trioza erytreae, vector of citrus huanglongbing” (E-RTA2015-00005-C6), held on October 1 and 2 in the experimental station of Las Torres, in Seville, under the Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training Institute (IFAPA).

The Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA), the Canary Institute for Agricultural Research (ICIA), the Institut Recerca i Tecnologies Agroalimentàries (IRTA), the IFAPA, the UPCT and the Murcian Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Development ( IMIDA).

The project is funded by the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), through a special call for emerging pests and will be developed in three years.

Source: UPCT