Electropenetrography (EPG) is one of the most rigorous methods to study stylet probing behaviors of piercing-sucking insects whose mouthparts move invisibly inside hosts. EPG is particularly useful for identifying vector behaviors that control transmission (acquisition, retention, and inoculation) of plant pathogens, comparing those behaviors among vector species, and aiding in development of novel vector and disease management tactics. Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) is a gram-negative, invasive bacterium native to the Americas, where it is the causal agent of lethal scorch-type diseases such as Pierce’s disease of grapevines. Xylella fastidiosa is transmitted by sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) and spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae). Despite over 75 yr of study, details of the inoculation mechanism of X. fastidiosa were unknown until the advent of EPG research with sharpshooters. Herein, the following topics are presented: 1) review of key EPG principles and waveforms published to date, emphasizing sharpshooters and spittlebugs; 2) summary of present understanding of biological meanings of sharpshooter waveforms; 3) review of mechanisms of transmission for X. fastidiosa illuminated by EPG; and 4) recommendations of the most useful waveform categories for EPG use in future, quantitative comparisons of sharpshooter stylet probing on various treatments such as infected versus uninfected plants, resistant varieties, or insecticide treatments. In addition, new work on the functional anatomy of the precibarial valve is discussed in the context of X. fastidiosa transmission and EPG waveforms. Also, the first block diagram of secondary, signal-processing circuits for the AC-DC EPG is published, and is discussed in relation to EPG signals appearances and meanings.

中文翻译：

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综述了神枪手和瓢虫的EPG波形，包括其与木须杆菌传播的生物学意义（Xanthomonadales：Xanthomonadaceae）。

静电描记术（EPG）是研究刺入式昆虫的口探针探测行为的最严格方法之一，这些昆虫的口器在宿主体内不可见。EPG对于识别控制植物病原体传播（获取，保留和接种）的媒介行为，在媒介物种之间比较那些行为以及帮助开发新型媒介和疾病管理策略特别有用。fastylosa（Wells et al。）是一种革兰氏阴性的入侵细菌，产于美洲，在这里是致命性焦烧型疾病（如葡萄皮尔斯氏病）的致病因子。木薯由锋利的叶蝉（Hemiptera：Cicadellidae：Cicadellinae）和spittlebugs（Hemiptera：Aphrophoridae）传播。尽管进行了超过75年的研究，但直到用射手进行EPG研究之前，对X. fastidiosa的接种机制的细节还是未知的。在此，提出以下主题：1）回顾迄今为止出版的主要EPG原理和波形，重点是神枪手和四处传播的臭虫；2）目前对神枪手波形的生物学含义的理解的总结；3）审查X. fastidiosa的传播机制由EPG照明；和4）推荐用于EPG的最有用的波形类别，未来对Sharpshooter探针进行各种处理（如感染与未感染植物，抗性品种或杀虫剂处理）进行定量比较。此外，在阀precibarial的功能解剖新的工作中的背景下讨论X. fastidiosa传输和EPG波形。此外，还发布了AC-DC EPG的次级信号处理电路的第一框图，并针对EPG信号的外观和含义进行了讨论。