Brown marmorated stink bug transmission of yeast in fruit and vegetables

When Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) feeds on apple, peach, nectarine, pepper, tomato, and green beans it causes discolorations, sunken lesions and internal white and brown spotting rendering the fruit unmarketable. The damage from BMSB feeding is especially injurious on some fruit and vegetables where it can deform the fruit more severely than other stink bug species. What could be causing such severe damage from this stink bug’s feeding? The brown Euschistus spp and green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say) are known to transmit yeast spot disease in soybeans and we wondered if the BMSB could be transmitting microorganisms into fruit or vegetables through its saliva. We undertook a series of studies to see what microorganisms, if any, are associated with BMSB feeding. One consistent microorganism was recovered from field; greenhouse and laboratory BMSB damaged fruit and vegetables. Based on morphology and molecular analysis, the yeast was identified as Eremothecium coryli, a plant pathogenic yeast. Different management programs were experimented with to see if the transmission of the yeast could be reduced.