Detection of Wolbachia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Rhizobiales: Rhizobiaceae) Associated With Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) Collected From Citrus reticulata (Sapindales: Rutaceae) and Alternate Host, Cordia myxa (Boraginales: Boraginaceae)

Abstract

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is an important insect pest of the citrus crop worldwide. It vectors the pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) that causes a serious disease known as citrus greening. Here, we tested the infection frequency of Wolbachia and CLas from 100 D. citri individuals collected from two host plants belonging to families Rutaceae (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and Boraginaceae (Cordia myxa L.) using molecular methods. The following trend of endosymbionts infection in adult D. citri was found; 85.4% (35/41) by Wolbachia, and 19.5% (8/41) by CLas collected from C. reticulata plants and 65.4% (17/26) by Wolbachia, and 15.4% (4/26) by CLas in case of C. myxa plant. However, 61.5% (8/13) nymphs collected from C. reticulata and 20.0% (4/20) collected from C. myxa plants were infected by Wolbachia, while no nymph was infected by CLas collected from either host plants. Findings from this work represent the first report of CLas presence in D. citri feeding on C. myxa plants. By studying the presence of CLas with other endosymbiotic bacteria, future basic and applied research to develop control strategies can be prioritized.

Analysis of genetic variation in an important pest, Tutaabsoluta, and its microbiota with a new bacterial endosymbiont

“…To avoid any contamination, each larvae and adult sample were exposed to 1% sodium hypochlorite, followed by two times distilled water rinse prior to DNA extraction. Total genomic DNA was isolated individually from 164 specimen including 19 adults and 146 larvae using a modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide protocol (CTAB) with minor modifications (Doyle and Doyle, 1987;Guz et al, 2020a (Table 3).…”

Elevation of vitellogenin expression in Sunn pest is associated with pre‐migration and migration phases of the life cycle

“…Sequencing reactions were performed using a DNA sequencer instrument (CEQ 8800 Genetic Analysis System Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, California) as described by Guz et al . (2020). The full‐length cDNA sequences of EmVg1 , EmVg2 and EmVg3 were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers MT468210, MT468211 and MT468212, respectively.…”