ARS | Publication request: UNDERSTANDING GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER FEEDING: GENE EXPRESSION IN GWSS SALIVARY GLANDS AND MIDGUTS

Submitted to: CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 20, 2003
Publication Date: December 8, 2003
Citation: Hunter, W.B., Dang, P.M., Backus, E.A., Habibi, J., Morgan, D. 2003. Understanding glassy-winged sharpshooter feeding: Gene expression in GWSS salivary glands and midguts. CDFA Pierce's Disease Control Program Research Symposium.

Technical Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter, GWSS, Homalodisca coagulata Say, is the main vector of a bacterial pathogen, Xylella, which is a major threat to agriculture throughout California and the southern United States. This bacterium causes many plant diseases, but one of the most severe is Pierce's Disease of grapes where infected vines have a reduced yield, and die. To better understand the dynamics of sharpshooter feeding and digestion, cDNA libraries were made to specific tissues, salivary glands and midguts dissected from actively feeding adult GWSS. Then the proteins being expressed within these tissues were identified using amino acid sequence comparison to previously identified proteins from insects and other organisms. Identification of proteins actively involved in feeding and digestion from GWSS salivary glands and midguts will provide specific targets for the development of methods aimed at disrupting GWSS feeding and ultimately reducing the acquisition and transmission of Pierce's Disease.