Native psyllid populations and the distribution of Candidatus phytoplasma australiense

This is the final report for the project “Native psyllid populations and the distribution of Candidatus phytoplasma australiense”, Project number PT10001. The recent accidental introduction of the tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) into New Zealand has raised fears that this insect pest could readily enter Australia and have a similar devastating impact on local solanaceous crop industries. The psyllid is a vector of the bacterium, “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum”, which is associated with psyllid yellows disease in tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums, eggplants and tamarillos, and zebra chip disease in potatoes. Another plant disease “Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense” was also recently discovered in New Zealand potatoes and psyllids were implicated in its spread. This report details outcomes from Project PT10001 which aimed to provide potato growers and industry stakeholders with an early warning system to detect incursions of the tomato potato psyllid in the major potato growing areas of eastern Australia, using a network of yellow sticky traps. A literature review on the tomato psyllid, Liberibacter and Phytoplasma complex is provided, and baseline data on the number and types of native psyllids caught in potato fields are given. The likelihood of native psyllids playing a role in the transmission of Liberibacter/Phytoplasma in potatoes is discussed.