Analysis of Candidatus liberibacter within potato psyllid tissue cell culture

The Potato Psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is an important agricultural pest insect due to its ability to transmit the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter psyllarous, CLp. CLp is a phloem inhabiting bacterium that is introduced into the plant during insect feeding. The resulting disease, Zebra Chip of potato, is exemplified by ‘chip burn’ during processing resulting in economic loss. Efforts to isolate CLp on artificial media have been unsuccessful. Due to reports that CLp may replicate within the psyllid vector, we examined the survival and replication of CLp in psyllid cell cultures. Previous advances with the Asian citrus psyllid cell culture, made it possible to culture potato psyllid cells and the associated Liberibacter. In this study, the relationship between CLp and B. cockerelli was analyzed by developing B. cockerelli tissue cell cultures. Preliminary results show the survival of CLp and indicate the possible location of CLp within the cell cultures. Discerning the location of the CLp bacterium, within cells, or outside of cells, will contribute to the understanding of the complex host/pathogen relationship. This will help elucidate whether or not CLp can replicate within the psyllid host.