Hemipteran-Plant Interactions Symposium

Hemipteran-Plant Interactions – Preliminary Program
Hemipteran feeding in relation to plant physiology and plant pathogen transmission.

July 11-14, 2011, Piracicaba,SP - Brazil

Phloem-feeding insects
phloem physiology
nutritional aspects/limitations of phloem sap as a food source for insects
other difficulties and solutions associated with feeding on phloem sap
how much does phloem sap vary from plant species to species?
feeding behavior of phloem-feeding insects
sensory feedback/cues involved in phloem-feeding

Xylem-feeding insects
xylem physiology
nutritional aspects/limitations of xylem sap as a food source for insects
other difficulties and solutions associated with feeding on xylem sap
how does xylem sap vary among plant species and vary over circadian and seasonal cycles?
feeding behavior of xylem-feeding insects
sensory feedback/cues involved in xylem-feeding

Other modes of piercing-sucking feeding (e.g., parenchyma feeders, lacerate & flush feeders, Heteroptera, thrips)
Mechanisms of piercing-sucking feeding for non-vascular specialists
feeding behavior (stylet penetration/salivation/ingestion)
difficulties and solutions associated with parenchyma and lacerate & flush feeding
sensory feedback/cues involved in parenchyma and lacerate & flush feeding

Plant response to piercing-sucking feeding
plant molecular response to piercing-sucking feeding
salivary biochemistry & molecular biology
mechanisms of`plant resistance to piercing-sucking insects

Plant pathogen - vector interactions
mechanisms of inoculation, acquisition, and retention by the vector
saliva-pathogen interactions (role of saliva in transmission)
effect of infection on vector feeding behavior