Phytoene desaturase-silenced citrus as a trap crop with multiple cues to attract Diaphorina citri, the vector of Huanglongbing

We proposed an attract-and-kill strategy using a trap crop as an alternative to vector control to reduce transmission of CLas in citrus. CTV was used to produce PDS-silenced citrus (CTV-tPDS) expressing visual, olfactory, and gustatory cues to attract psyllids. D. citri were more attracted to CTV-tPDS plants compared with those reared on control plants. Introducing CTV-tPDS plants to orchards will attract psyllids to facilitate their removal with insecticides. This strategy is eco-friendly and could be deployed quickly and economically to HLB-impacted citrus industries.