Feeding by Adult Spotted Lanternfly Affects Carbon Allocation Postinfestation in Young Grapevines

Background and goals The spot t ed l ant er nfly (SLF), Lycor ma delicatula White, is an invasive sap-feeding planthopper that can negatively affect grapevine carbon assimilation and allocation, but it is unclear if such negative effects persist postinfestation. This study examined whether adult SLF feeding affects carbon allocation after SLF removal, with the aim to determine if starch storage in young vines was negatively affected by prolonged adult SLF feeding. Methods and key findings 1₃ C pulse labeling was used to measure¹³ C content of vegetative tissues in young, con-tainer-grown Cabernet franc grapevines. We measured total nonstructural carbohydrates in stems and roots. Feeding by SLF affected carbon allocation: SLF-infested vines had about two times greater¹³ C content in stems and over four ti mes l ess¹³ C i n 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 root¹³ C. Conclusions and significance This study demonstrates that the effects 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 negative effects on carbon allocation and storage.