Communications Biology (Nov 2021)

Parasitoid vectors a plant pathogen, potentially diminishing the benefits it confers as a biological control agent

  • Chang-Fei Guo,
  • Muhammad Z. Ahmed,
  • Da Ou,
  • Li-He Zhang,
  • Zi-Tong Lu,
  • Wen Sang,
  • Cindy L. McKenzie,
  • Robert G. Shatters,
  • Bao-Li Qiu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02851-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Guo et al. demonstrate the possibility of a parasitoid to contract and transmit a bacterial pathogen via its insect host to the citrus plant it is used to protect. This reduces the efficacy of the biological control agent to protect the plant from ill effects.