Insecticide Efficacy of Green Synthesis Silver Nanoparticles on Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae).

Simple Summary: Citrus production worldwide is threatened by the bacterium Liberibacter spp. Fagen and its vector Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. In the absence of an effective method against the bacteria, management plans are directed towards the vector. However, management strategies such as chemical control have presented difficulties in controlling the insect. Therefore, the application of new control techniques, such as nanoparticles by green synthesis, emerges as a promising control alternative. To address this issue, the objective of this study was to evaluate silver nanoparticles by green synthesis against D. citri nymphs in the laboratory and greenhouse. The results show that the nanoparticles achieved up to 100% mortality in the laboratory and 80% in the greenhouse. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles as a potential control method for the insect. Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a vector of Liberibacter asiaticus Jagoueix et al. and Liberibacter americanus Teixeira et al., causal agents of the critical yellow dragon disease or Huanglongbing (HLB), which affects citrus production worldwide. Recently, green synthetic nanoparticles have emerged as a potential alternative to control of agricultural insect pests. The insecticide effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on 2nd instar nymphs of D. citri under laboratory and greenhouse conditions was evaluated. Mortality was recorded 24, 48, and 72 h after application on D. citri nymphs under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The laboratory results showed that AgNPs caused 97.84 and 100% mortality at 32 and 64 ppm, respectively, 72 h after treatment. In the greenhouse, AgNPs caused 78.69 and 80.14% mortality using 64 and 128 ppm 72 h after application. This research is the first to evaluate the green synthesis AgNPs on D. citri and are a promising strategy to control the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]