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Title: DNA Polymorphisms Detected in a Population of Glassy-winged Sharpshooters (Homalodisca coagulata) from Weslaco, Texas by PCR-based DNA Fingerprinting Methods

Author
item De Leon, Jesus

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: De Leon, J.H. 2004. DNA polymorphisms detected in a population of glassy-winged sharpshooters (Homalodisca coagulata) from Weslaco, Texas by PCR-based DNA fingerprinting methods [abstract]. Journal of Insect Science. 2:17.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a large and slender xylem feeding leafhopper measuring about half an inch in length that was native to the southeastern United States, including Texas. Recently, this sharpshooter has become a concern in California because it vectors a strain of Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterium that causes Pierce's Disease in grapevines. This disease poses a potentially serious threat to the wine and table grape industry in California. The current work was undertaken to develop molecular genetic markers for the glassy-winged sharpshooter by various PCR-based DNA fingerprinting methods for the purpose of estimating the level of genetic variation within and among populations with the aim of achieving genetic information useful for improving biological control of this leafhopper. These fingerprinting methods included SSR-PCR (Simple Sequence Repeat-Polymerase Chain Reaction), RAMP (Randomly Amplified Microsatellite Loci), SAMPL (Selective Amplification of Microsatellite Polymorphic Loci) and RAPD (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA). A combined total of about 183 polymorphic bands were detected in the Weslaco, Texas sharpshooters with the four methods and three insects per primer combination (48 total), specifically 54, 58, 34, and 37 polymorphic bands were generated by SSR-PCR, RAMP, SAMPL, and RAPD, respectively. We then applied and compared these PCR-based DNA fingerprinting methods to geographic populations of glassy-winged sharpshooters from Texas and California. In addition, we compared three Homalodisca sharpshooter species (H. coagulata, H. lacerta, and H. insolita). Our results demonstrated that the molecular genetic markers that we developed distinguished geographic populations (from Texas and California) of glassy-winged sharpshooters and also distinguished the three Homalodisca sharpshooter species.