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<p>The pear psyllid <i>Cacopsylla pyri</i> is the main vector of ‘<i>Candidatus</i> Phytoplasma pyri’, the causal agent of pear decline, a disease associated with severe yield losses in pear production. Phytoplasmas are further known to interfere with their vectors metabolism; therefore, we investigated whether an infection with ‘<i>Ca.</i> P. pyri’ is associated with changes in nutrient storage of the pear psyllids. Additionally, we measured whether the phytoplasma infection is associated with differences in flight performance in <i>C. pyri</i>, as the flight activity of the vector is a key component of phytopathogen spread. Using a flight mill, we quantified flight distance, duration, and speed, and combined qPCR-based infection detection with colorimetric assays to determine protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content from the same individual. Infected psyllids contained significantly higher levels of soluble carbohydrates than uninfected individuals. Lipid content was not affected by the phytoplasma infections but was found to be consistently higher in males than in females, while protein levels did not vary with sex or infection status. Despite infection-related differences in carbohydrate levels, phytoplasma infection did not significantly affect flight duration, distance, or speed. These results indicate that infection-associated shifts in bulk carbohydrate storage do not translate into altered flight motivation or performance, suggesting a functional decoupling between metabolic state and realised dispersal capacity under standardised laboratory conditions.</p>

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Infection with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ alters nutrient storage without affecting flight performance in Cacopsylla pyri

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

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  • Christina Koller,
  • Jannicke Gallinger,
  • Andreas Jürgens,
  • Jürgen Gross

摘要

The pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri is the main vector of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’, the causal agent of pear decline, a disease associated with severe yield losses in pear production. Phytoplasmas are further known to interfere with their vectors metabolism; therefore, we investigated whether an infection with ‘Ca. P. pyri’ is associated with changes in nutrient storage of the pear psyllids. Additionally, we measured whether the phytoplasma infection is associated with differences in flight performance in C. pyri, as the flight activity of the vector is a key component of phytopathogen spread. Using a flight mill, we quantified flight distance, duration, and speed, and combined qPCR-based infection detection with colorimetric assays to determine protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content from the same individual. Infected psyllids contained significantly higher levels of soluble carbohydrates than uninfected individuals. Lipid content was not affected by the phytoplasma infections but was found to be consistently higher in males than in females, while protein levels did not vary with sex or infection status. Despite infection-related differences in carbohydrate levels, phytoplasma infection did not significantly affect flight duration, distance, or speed. These results indicate that infection-associated shifts in bulk carbohydrate storage do not translate into altered flight motivation or performance, suggesting a functional decoupling between metabolic state and realised dispersal capacity under standardised laboratory conditions.