Host plant relationships of insect potential vectors of Xylella fastidiosa

苛养木霉是一种严重的植物病害，主要危害橄榄、葡萄藤、樱桃、迷迭香和熏衣草等农作物、园艺植物和林木，造成严重的产量损失和死亡。尽管英国尚未发现该病害，但由于大量从病害流行地区进口这些植物，因此对园艺造成严重威胁。X.苛养菌是一种木质部限制的细菌，其由以木质部为食的臭虫，特别是蛙蛉（spittlebugs）和某些较大的叶蝉传播。常见且广泛分布的“草地沫虫”，即泡沫沫虫，被认为是欧洲的主要传播媒介;它也是已知最多食性的昆虫之一，寄主植物超过500种。学生将研究以熏衣草和葡萄藤为食的泡囊拟步行虫的基本生态、行为和生理（两者都是英国入侵的高风险宿主），结合实地调查、实验室和半实地选择实验以及对病媒摄食行为和生理的实验室检查。我们2019年来自Downderry Nursery的初步数据表明，P. spumarius在某些熏衣草物种和品种之间进行了差异选择;葡萄藤品种之间可能存在类似的偏好，但迄今为止尚未进行过研究。学生将回答以下问题：spumarius对不同的熏衣草品种和葡萄藤品种有什么偏好？这是如何影响昆虫的表现和健身？根据植物的基因型，spumarius的摄食行为和生理学有何不同，这与性能有关吗？上述行为和生理上的差异是否可能影响Xylella的传播？对泡沫木霉和其他以木质部为食的昆虫的取食的进一步了解将提高英国应对未来任何Xylella入侵的能力。它还将为贸易政策提供信息，说明哪些植物物种/品种应受到更严格的进口管制。

Xylella fastidiosa is regarded as one of the most devastating plant diseases, causing high yield losses and death in major crops, ornamentals and forest trees, including olive, grapevine, cherry, rosemary and lavender.Although not yet recorded in the UK, Xylella is a serious threat to horticulture due to the high volume of imports of these plants from areas where the disease is prevalent. X. fastidiosa is a xylem-limited bacterium that is transmitted by xylem-feeding bugs, notably froghoppers (spittlebugs) and certain larger leafhoppers. The common and widespread 'Meadow spittlebug', Philaenus spumarius, is considered to be the primary vector in Europe; it is also one of the most polyphagous insects known, with a host plant list in excess of 500 species.The student will study the fundamental ecology, behaviour and physiology of P. spumarius feeding on lavender and grapevine (both high-risk hosts for UK incursion), combining field surveys, laboratory and semi-field choice experiments and laboratory examination of vector feeding behaviour and physiology. Our preliminary 2019 data from Downderry Nursery indicates that P. spumarius differentially selects between certain lavender species and varieties; similar preferences might be expected between grapevine cultivars but hitherto have not been investigated. The student will address the following questions:What preferences does spumarius show for different lavender species/varieties and grapevine cultivars?How does this affect insect performance and fitness?How does spumarius feeding behaviour and physiology differ according to plant genotype and is this related to performance?Are the above differences in behaviour and physiology likely to affect Xylella transmission?Improved understanding of feeding in P. spumarius and other xylem-feeding insects will enhance UK capacity to respond to any future incursion of Xylella. It will also inform trade policy in terms of which plant species/varieties should be subject to greater import controls.