Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a potential novel entomopathogenic fungus, Allocanariomyces sp. GWSS32, isolated from the glassy-winged sharpshooter

Authors: Wallis, Christopher; Chen, Jianchi

Submitted to: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/2025
Publication Date: 8/29/2025
Citation: Wallis, C.M., Chen, J. 2025. Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a potential novel entomopathogenic fungus, Allocanariomyces sp. GWSS32, isolated from the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Microbiology Resource Announcements. e00446-25. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00446-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00446-25

Interpretive Summary: Glassy-winged sharpshooters (GWSS) are a major vectoring insect of Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's disease of grapevines. Novel, sustainable solutions are needed to control populations of this insect, and one option might be deploying biological control agents such as insect-infecting fungi. Thus, a strain of fungus, called GWSS32, was obtained from an infected GWSS and its genome was sequenced for identification. Analysis of the fungal genome suggests that it likely belongs in the genus Madurella, but it is a new species. The availability of the genome will allow for clarifying the taxonomic position of GWSS32, which is important due to its potential for becoming a biological control strain.

Technical Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar), is a major vectoring insect of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce’s disease of grapevines. As such, the major management tool for limiting Pierce’s disease spread is to reduce GWSS populations, generally using chemical insecticides. However, frequent use of insecticides has led to the development of resistance in GWSS, organic growers need control option alternatives, and proposed legislations is limited chemical options. Thus, efforts were undertaken to isolate novel entomopathogenic biological control strains that could be used as biorationals to reduce GWSS populations. This genome resource describes the mitochondrial genome of one fungal strain, GWSS32, collected from this effort, of a currently unknown species from the Order Sordiales. This mitogenome was determined to be 33,494 bp in length and currently was discovered to be most like the opportunistic human pathogen Madurella mycetomatis, albeit with only 74% query coverage and 93.5% identity with that fungus. The announcement of this mitogenome should allow improved characterization of entomopathogenic fungi in the Order Sordiales.