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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421496
Research Project: IPM Method for Control of Insect Pests and Transmitted Diseases of Orchard Crops

Location: Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research

Title: Transcriptomic characterization of Wolbachia endosymbiont from Leuronota fagarae (Hemiptera: Psylloidae)

Author
item STUEHLER, DOUGLAS - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Hunter, Wayne
item QURESHI, JAWWAD - University Of Florida
item CANO, LILIANO - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2025
Publication Date: 4/3/2025
Citation: Stuehler, D.S., Hunter, W.B., Qureshi, J., Cano, L.M. Transcriptomic characterization of Wolbachia endosymbiont from Leuronota fagarae (Hemiptera: Psylloidae). Popular Publication. 4:19. 2025. https://doi.org/10.20517/mrr.2024.84.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20517/mrr.2024.84

Interpretive Summary: Many insect species contain bacteria called Wolbachia that can influence numerous aspects of the insect biology. Genetic analysis was used to show that the Wild Lime Psyllid, Leuronota fagarae, contains a unique strain of Wolbachia related to the group (Supergroup B) of Wolbachia strains found in the potato psyllid and the Asian citrus psyllid, both of which are known vectors of Liberibacter bacterial pathogens associated with zebra chip disease in potato and citrus greening disease in citrus. Wolbachia can influence many aspects of the host insect biology, including the insect’s ability to transmit pathogens to plants. Therefore, we are interested in identifying the diversity of Wolbachia species present in various psyllid species and how these Wolbachia may influence the insect’s ability to transmit the Liberibacter bacteria associated with citrus greening disease. If Wolbachia can be identified that block transmission of the Liberibacter bacteria, they could be used to develop a method to block the spread of the devastating citrus greening disease.

Technical Abstract: A new Wolbachia strain from the wild lime psyllid, Leuronota fagarae, was characterized using Next Generation Sequencing of cDNA libraries, and a multilocus sequencing type (MLST) scheme using nine standard genes. Phylogeny showed distinct evolutionary lineage to Supergroup B, which includes Wolbachia strains from other psyllid including the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera, Liviidae). The fundamental relationship between Wolbachia and its psyllid host provides valuable insight regarding the influence of the endosymbionts on the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Ultimately this knowledge will be adapted to improve management of psyllids to reduce transmission of bacterial pathogens, like bacteria causing citrus Huanglongbing, HLB. Funded in part by: National Institute Food and Agriculture/ United States Department of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grant #2020-70029-33176, Therapeutic Molecule Evaluation and Field Delivery Pipeline for Solutions to HLB.