Margaranthus solanaceus 11 , a New Weed Host Plant for Bactericera cockerelli 22 and Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum 33 on the Gulf Coastal Plain of Northeastern Mexico

Lack of information for wild plant hosts of Bactericera cockerelli limits understanding of ecology and phenology of the insect and actual role of wild host plants in disease dynamics. Because of vectoring the plant pathogenic bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso), B. cockerelli is one of the most important pests of solanaceus crops. Herein, B. cockerelli is reported to be associated with a previously unrecognized wild plant host, Margaranthus solanaceus Schltdl. (netted globe -cherry) on lowland plains of northeastern Mexico. In total, 37 Margaranthus plant samples were collected at Cadereyta, State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. From these, 761 eggs and 129 nymphs were obtained (mean of 20.56 +/- 1.04 eggs and 3.48 +/- 0.4 nymphs per plant). The insect completed its lifecycle on the plant. PCR indicated that three of 35 Margaranthus plants examined (8.6%) were positive for Lso infection; because of methodological difficulties, the percentage was probably underestimated. All adult psyllids (100%) in a sample (n = 21) that emerged from nymphs on Margaranthus and were analyzed by PCR were infected by Lso. This is the first report of M. solanaceous as host of B. cockerelli , Lso and Lso-infected B. cockerelli . With other wild hosts, the plant might contribute to population dynamics of B. cockerelli and Lso in North America.