NIFA Award No. 2012-51181-20086 Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Inc. NuPsyllid: Rear and Release Psyllids as Biological Control Agents – An Economical and Feasible Mid-Term Solution for Huanglongbing (HLB) Disease of Citrus

The purpose of this NIFA-CAPS is to create attractive options for management of HLB by replacing the wild type insect vector (ACP) with a population that is unable to transmit the bacterial causative agent (CLas). Achieving this outcome will require progress in the following three areas of emphasis – An Effector Mechanism, A Driver System, and Diffusion. The current conditions threatening citrus production nationally require our key personnel to work concurrently on parallel technical plans and to accelerate the leading alternatives based on assessments by our team leaders, advisors and management. This research has established a broad foundational knowledge base of molecular interactions between host, pathogen and vector that is now contributing to additional NIFA-funded programs. Part of our outreach in the final phase of this program will be to integrate our progress with others focused on the HLB challenge.