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Research Project: Integrated Crop Disease Mitigation through Improved Understanding of Relationships between Genetics, Environment, and Management

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: First molecular verification of the cotton jassid (Amrasca biguttula) in the United States

Author
item Zhao, Chaoyang
item Balkcom, Kipling

Submitted to: bioRxiv
Publication Type: Rapid Release Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2025
Publication Date: 9/7/2025
Citation: Zhao, C., Balkcom, K.S. 2025. First molecular verification of the cotton jassid (Amrasca biguttula) in the United States. bioRxiv. 2025.09.03.673823. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.03.673823.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.03.673823

Interpretive Summary: This report contains the first molecular record of the cotton jassid, Amrasca biguttula (Hemipter: Cicadellidae), in the United States. Nymphs across multiple instars and adult specimens were collected from a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) field in Macon County, Alabama, in August 2025. While distinct paired dark spots were observed on forewings of adult specimens, this trait was inconsistently present among nymphs. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) DNA barcoding confirmed the specimen identity. The United States sequence shared > 99% identity with Asian A. biguttula references and clustering placed the sequence within the A. biguttula clade with 100% posterior probability support in phylogenetic analysis. Although this pest was previously reported in 2023 from Puerto Rico based solely on morphological traits, our findings provide the first DNA-confirmed evidence of its presence in the continental United States. Given its well-documented role in damaging cotton across Asia and Africa, this report underscores the urgent need for monitoring and development of management strategies in United States cotton-growing regions.

Technical Abstract: This report contains the first molecular record of the cotton jassid, Amrasca biguttula (Hemipter: Cicadellidae), in the United States. Nymphs across multiple instars and adult specimens were collected from a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) field in Macon County, Alabama, in August 2025. While distinct paired dark spots were observed on forewings of adult specimens, this trait was inconsistently present among nymphs. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) DNA barcoding confirmed the specimen identity. The United States sequence shared > 99% identity with Asian A. biguttula references and clustering placed the sequence within the A. biguttula clade with 100% posterior probability support in phylogenetic analysis. Although this pest was previously reported in 2023 from Puerto Rico based solely on morphological traits, our findings provide the first DNA-confirmed evidence of its presence in the continental United States. Given its well-documented role in damaging cotton across Asia and Africa, this report underscores the urgent need for monitoring and development of management strategies in United States cotton-growing regions.