Development of potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) cell culture and isolation of Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurus

The potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) is a known vector of Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous a phloem inhabiting bacterium that causes Zebra Complex (ZC). More recently, the potato psyllid has been targeted as a probable vector of huanglongbing (HLB), a disease also caused by Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous. Infected B. cockerelli transfer the bacterium to their host, generally potato and tomato plants. Liberibacter causes yellowing and eventually kills the host plant. The fifth instar larval stage was used to develop cell culture lines of the potato psyllid. A protocol was developed using Hert-Hunter-70 (HH70) media. Isolation of Liberibacter was accomplished with QRT PCR. The successful isolation will be useful in further genomic studies of the bacterium.