Tasks

Guest scientist/doctoral student in the research group "Applied Chemical Ecology" in collaboration with the research group "Chemical Plant Ecology" of Technische Universität Darmstadt.

Investigation of the influence of 16SrX-phytoplasma infection (apple proliferation, pear decline, ESFY) on the fitness and behaviour of their vector insects (Psyllidae: Cacopsylla spp.)

• Maintenance/Cultivation of apple-, pear- and plum psyllids on phytoplasma-infected as well as on healthy host plants
• Determination of essential developmental parameters (e.g. development duration, body size, reproductive capacity)
• Further development of an artificial diet for psyllids and development of a test procedure to investigate the importance of phloem components for behaviour and development
• Determination of the influence of an infection on the vector with regard to its fitness using various methods and devices (e.g. flight mill, laser vibrometer)
• Development of an antibody-based staining method for the identification and tracking of the infection in the animal