Identification and definitions of Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) waveforms for the potato psyllid, Paratrioza cockerelli, on susceptible potato

Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) was used to study the stylet penetration behaviors of the potato psyllid, Paratrioza cockerelli, on potato cv. ‘Atlantic.’ Major waveform types were recorded at five different input resistances, for both AC and DC substrate voltages, to complete a waveform library. These waveforms were also defined using light microscopy of salivary sheath termini in plant tissue after probes were artificially terminated. P. cockerelli is the vector of Ca. Liberibacter psyllaurus/solanacearum, which causes a tuber condition, termed Zebra Chip. Identifying and defining waveforms of P. cockerrelli is the essential first step towards implementing EPG as a tool for screening plants for host plant resistance to either the feeding or pathogen transmission behaviors of the vector.