Hemipterans are probably the most damaging agricultural pests worldwide not only as direct pests but also most importantly as vectors of plant pathogens. This is because of their unique feeding habits, great dispersal capacity, high population growth rate and ability to adapt and explore new habitats. Consequently, Hemipterans are well known as drivers of the emergence of new and existing plant-pathogenic viral and bacterial diseases. Examples of hemipterans acting as vectors of devastating emerging diseases in agriculture in the last decade include phloem feeders such as psyllids, transmitting Candidatus Liberibacter spp. associated with citrus huanglongbing, potato zebra chip and other vegetable disorders, as well as xylem-feeders such as sharpshoorters and spittlebugs, transmitting Xylella fastidiosa to vineyards in the USA or to olives in Italy. In addition, whiteflies and aphids cause year after year serious problems as virus vectors in horticultural crops all over the world. Hemipterans are also well known because of their high ability to develop resistance to insecticides, overcome host plant resistance genes and lack of susceptibility to most modern biotechnology-based approaches (eg. BT crops). Consequently, an interdisciplinary discussion forum of scientists working in different aspects of Hemipteran-Plant Interactions is strongly needed to tackle existing and future threats. The next 2017 Hemipteran-Plant Interactions Symposium (HPIS 2017) to be held in Madrid, Spain is the 3rd of the series (1st in Piracicaba, Brazil in 2011; 2nd in Riverside, CA, USA in 2014) and will bring together entomologists with expertise in phytophagous hemipterans and their host-plant interactions, plant physiologists and molecular biologists with expertise in plant defense, plant pathologists interested in transmission of plant pathogens, plant breeders and crop management specialists interested in pest and disease control. Presentations will be organized in cohesive sections covering a broad range of studies from basic aspects of systematics and plant-insect-pathogen interactions to more applied approaches focused on management of Hemipteran pests/plant diseases. ... [Information of the supplier]
