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Title: Geographical survey of the mycobiome and microbiome of Southern California glassy-winged sharpshooters
ABSTRACT The glassy-winged sharpshooter,Homalodisca vitripennisGermar, is an invasive xylem-feeding leafhopper with a devastating economic impact on California agriculture through transmission of the plant pathogen,Xylella fastidiosa. While studies have focused onX. fastidiosaor known symbionts ofH. vitripennis, little work has been done at the scale of the microbiome (the bacterial community) or mycobiome (the fungal community). Here, we characterize the mycobiome and the microbiome ofH. vitripennisacross Southern California and explore correlations with captivity and host insecticide resistance status. Using high-throughput sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region and the 16S rRNA gene to profile the mycobiome and microbiome, respectively, we found that while theH. vitripennismycobiome significantly varied across Southern California, the microbiome did not. We also observed a significant difference in both the mycobiome and microbiome between captive and wildH. vitripennis. Finally, we found that the mycobiome, but not the microbiome, was correlated with insecticide resistance status in wildH. vitripennis. This study serves as a foundational look at theH. vitripennismycobiome and microbiome across Southern California. Future work should explore the putative link between microbes and insecticide resistance status and investigate whether microbial communities should be considered inH. vitripennismanagement practices. IMPORTANCEThe glassy-winged sharpshooter is an invasive leafhopper that feeds on the xylem of plants and transmits the devastating pathogen,Xylella fastidiosa, resulting in significant economic damage to California’s agricultural system. While studies have focused on this pathogen or obligate symbionts of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, there is limited knowledge of the bacterial and fungal communities that make up its microbiome and mycobiome. To address this knowledge gap, we explored the composition of the mycobiome and the microbiome of the glassy-winged sharpshooter across Southern California and identified differences associated with geography, captivity, and host insecticide resistance status. Understanding sources of variation in the microbial communities associated with the glassy-winged sharpshooter is an important consideration for developing management strategies to control this invasive insect. This study is a first step toward understanding the role microbes may play in the glassy-winged sharpshooter’s resistance to insecticides.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1922642
PAR ID:
10635040
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
McMahon, Katherine
Publisher / Repository:
American Society for Microbiology
Date Published:
Journal Name:
mSphere
Volume:
8
Issue:
5
ISSN:
2379-5042
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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