Francesco Martoni discusses the importance of taxonomy and accurate identification of New Zealand psyllids for biosecurity purposes. Taxonomy has revealed at least 15 new psyllid species in New Zealand, with over 99 total species, 64 of which are endemic. Analysis of the microbiome of New Zealand psyllids using next generation sequencing identified distinct microbial patterns that correlate with the insect phylogeny. Accurate identification of psyllid species and their associated microflora can help determine whether a psyllid is likely to vector plant pathogens or bacteria.

1. SESSION 2: MORE ACCURATE AND TIMELY DIAGNOSTICS TO BETTER
INFORM BIOSECURITY DECISIONS
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Francesco Martoni

2. Why Taxonomy remains a fundamental weapon
for Biosecurity: the case of the New Zealand psyllids.
Francesco Martoni
PhD Student – Lincoln University
Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre

3. When does a name really matter?

5. The most important aspect of biosecurity..

6. ..is knowing our (psyllid) Biodiversity!
Part 1:
Insects
Phylogeny
Part 2:
Microflora

7. The importance of Taxonomy: the science of
names.

8. Psyllid Biodiversity and their names
• At least 99 psyllids
• 64 species endemic to New Zealand

9. • More than 70 different taxa
• Including all the families

10. Genus Trioza (Psylloidea: Triozidae)

11. PsyllacarmichaeliaePsyllaapicalis
a (Big)
B C
D
E
A
b (small)
• At least 15 new species
• A case of synonymy

12. ID

13. Analysis of the microbiome of the New
Zealand psyllids.
Next Generation Sequencing Illumina MiSeq 16S amplicon protocol
Bioinformatics analysis

14. Acizzia dodonaeae
Acizzia jucunda Ctenarytaina clavata Ctenarytaina eucalypti
Ctenarytaina fuchsia
Ctenarytaina pollicaris

15. In Conclusion:
• The phylogenetic study of the NZ psyllid species revealed at least 15 new
species, different evolutive processes and interesting insect-host plant
relationships.
• Patterns in the biodiversity of the microflora can be detected and they
are compatible with the insects’ phylogeny.
•  This can help in determining if a certain psyllid is more likely to vector
a plant pathogen or a bacterium!
• What’s Next?
• - Finer scale analysis (e.g. qPCR) of selected S-Symbionts.
• - Phylogeny of the P-Symbiont Candidatus Carsonella rudii.

16. Acknowledgements
Main Supervisor: Karen Armstrong (Lincoln University, New Zealand)
Supervisory team: Simon Bulman (Plant and Food Research, New Zealand)
Andrew Pitman (Plant and Food Research, New Zealand)
Gary Taylor (The University of Adelaide, Australia)

17. Don’t be pSILLYd and ask me any question!
francesco.martoni@lincolnuni.ac.nz
THANK YOU!