Feeding by Adult Spotted Lanternfly Impacts Carbon Allocation Post Infestation in Young Grapevines

Abstract

Background and goals: The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White), is an invasive sap-feeding planthopper that can negatively affect grapevine carbon assimilation and allocation, but it is unclear if impacts persist post infestation. The goals of this study were to test if adult SLF feeding impacts carbon allocation after SLF removal and confirm the impacts of prolonged adult SLF feeding on starch storage in young vines.

Methods and key findings: 13C pulse-labelling was used to measure 13C content of vegetative tissues in young, container-grown Cabernet franc grapevines. We measured total nonstructural carbohydrates in stems and roots. Feeding by SLF impacted carbon allocation: SLF-infested vines had about two times greater 13C content in stems and over four times less 13C in roots than control vines, 12 days after SLF removal. We confirmed that SLF feeding can inhibit carbon allocation to roots, as demonstrated via reductions in root 13C.

Conclusions and significance: This study demonstrates that the impacts of adult SLF feeding on carbon allocation may persist following SLF removal, suggesting that carbon reserve refilling may be limited following substantial late season feeding. These results highlight the importance of controlling the exposure time of vines to high populations of adult SLF to avoid impacts on carbon allocation and storage.