ARS | Publication request: Asian citrus psyllid genome (Diaphorina citri, Hemiptera)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 30, 2012
Publication Date: February 4, 2013
Citation: Hunter, W.B., Reese, J. 2013. Asian citrus psyllid genome (Diaphorina citri, Hemiptera)[abstract]. International Research Citrus Huanglongbing, February 4-8, 2013, Orlando, Florida.

Technical Abstract: The Psyllid genome is a scientific breakthrough in that it opens the psyllid genetic blueprint to investigations of all questions ranging from taxonomic origins to the understanding of developmental biology, to the acquisition and transmission of pathogens. The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera) threatens the citrus industry as a vector of the plant-infecting bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, associated with the devastating disease, Huanglongbing. Psyllids are major disease vectors of many fruit tree crops yet their genetics have remained poorly studied. The first genome draft of D. citri, DIACI_1.0 was completed in 2011 (ARS, Ft. Pierce, FL), however, gaps in the assembly prompted additional sequencing using the long run PacBio system at the Los Alamos National Lab, New Mexico. The newly assembled genome DIACI_2.0 was assembled using the new software PB-Jelly, with an improved N50 of 38 kb, up from 25kb, and the number of resolved bases increased by over 10 million. The genome and transcriptome have been submitted into the public domain at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI, to be processed -[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome?LinkName=bioproject_genome&from_uid=29447] and for access by the larger research community. The psyllid transcriptome identified over 25,600 predicted genes, and is supported by an additional 19,598 previous expressed sequence tags. Life stage specific transcripts were identified for Adults, Nymphs and Eggs. BlastX analyses showed the most similarity to the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, another hemipteran. The transcriptome data was provided for the Innocentive® Challenge program 2011, to increase efforts for RNAi development against psyllids. Other researchers are also using these data to develop strategies to suppress psyllid populations. Efforts are now focused on annotation of the psyllid genome which will provide more information on the genetic basis of psyllid biology.