AgriLife Research Leads Rice Delphacid And Hoja Blanca Virus Studies
GABE SALDANA
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are leading field, greenhouse and laboratory investigations to find solutions in the fight against the invasive rice delphacid and the hoja blanca virus it transmits.
The insect pest and disease have damaged rice crops along with producer livelihoods across the southern U.S., prompting coordinated research for long-term solutions and new producer guidance before 2026 planting. In Texas, rice delphacid has been widespread in producer fields and research test plots.
“The combination of rice delphacid and hoja blanca disease is a serious challenge for rice production,” said Mithila Jugulam, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Beaumont and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
The center serves as Texas A&M AgriLife’s primary hub for rice science and technology development. It is located at the epicenter of the rice delphacid outbreak in Texas, where infestations and viral infections have appeared across test plots.
Two key researchers at the Texas A&M AgriLife center at Beaumont lead the search for science-based solutions:
Bernaola and Zhou work closely on new strategies to slow disease transmission and reduce insect damage to plants while leading their own research efforts.
Understanding rice delphacid populations, behaviors and control methods
Bernaola’s team is studying how rice delphacid populations build and spread across fields throughout the Texas growing season, including when they arrive in rice fields, how quickly their populations grow and how they spread between fields.
“We’re also interested in whether they survive the winter locally or migrate in from other regions each year,” she said.
Her team monitors the pest at multiple rice-producing locations across Texas. They are now investigating whether natural enemies like spiders might help control rice delphacid populations.
In the greenhouse, the team is studying the pest’s biology and feeding behaviors at different plant growth stages while testing alternative control methods like habitat management. Bernaola is also screening current U.S. rice varieties and some from other countries for potential natural resistance or tolerance to this pest. Her team in the field is evaluating potential insecticides to control rice delphacid.
Identifying and addressing hoja blanca disease
Meanwhile, Zhou focuses on the hoja blanca disease, a serious viral infection transmitted by rice delphacid.
In 2024, he was the first to identify the specific virus that causes hoja blanca, and he developed molecular tools to detect it. His ongoing research aims to clarify how the virus spreads within plants, ratoon crops and seed systems – and how to disrupt that cycle.
Zhou is working with plant pathologists, virologists and entomologists from AgriLife Research, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other universities to better understand the virus, its spread and the rice delphacid itself.
“Rice delphacid and hoja blanca are spreading at an unprecedented pace,” Zhou said. “By working together, we can better understand the disease, and its insect vector and develop strategies to protect U.S. rice production.”
Collaboration and long-term impact
Zhou and Bernaola collaborate closely with peer researchers, producers and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists to develop custom strategies for Texas rice systems. They are also part of a multi-state taskforce across the southern U.S., sharing data and aligning research.
In the longer term, the teams will seek to breed varieties that naturally resist rice delphacid and hoja blanca. They are working with rice breeders at the center now to identify viable rice lines. This year, Zhou said, a screening of more than 300 U.S. rice varieties and breeding lines revealed some differences in susceptibility to hoja blanca, offering hope for future integrated pest and disease management strategies.
New knowledge and collaborations forged by the research teams at Beaumont will inform new scouting guidelines, cultural practices, early warning tips and identification resources. The team plans to work with AgriLife Extension on releasing updated guidance before planting begins in March. ∆
GABE SALDANA
TEXAS AGRI LIFE