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Title: Molecular characterization of Gonatocerus tuberculifemur (Ogloblin) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), a prospective Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) biological control candidate agent from South America:

Author
item De Leon, Jesus
item LOGARZO, GUILLERMO - ARS-SABL-ARGENTINA
item TRIAPITSYN, SERGUEI - UC-RIVERSIDE

Submitted to: Bulletin of Entomological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/24/2007
Publication Date: 1/23/2008
Citation: De Leon, J.H., Logarzo, G., Triapitsyn, S.V. 2008. Molecular characterization of Gonatocerus tuberculifemur (Ogloblin) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), a prospective Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) biological control candidate agent from South America: Divergent clades. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 98:97-108.

Interpretive Summary: In the present study, a prospective natural enemy candidate agent, (Gonatocerus tuberculifemur), was molecularly characterized for a neoclassical biological control program against the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) (Homalodisca vitripennis) in California. Identifying the correct natural enemy is crucial for a successful biological control program. Two molecular methods were used to characterize five geographic populations from South America (Argentina and Chile). Inter-simple sequence repeat-polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) DNA fingerprinting uncovered fixed geographic variation in a population from San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina. A phylogenetic analysis inferred by the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI) uncovered two distinct clades with very strong bootstrap support, with all individuals from the San Rafael population clustering into their own unique clade. The two molecular methods were in accord, and the evidence suggests that G. tuberculifemur either exists as a cryptic species complex or a new species was identified. Since G. tuberculifemur is under consideration as a potential biological control agent for the invasive GWSS in California, understanding possible cryptic variation of this species is critical; therefore, this information is very important to the biological control in California.

Technical Abstract: We genetically characterized the prospective South American egg parasitoid candidate, Gonatocerus tuberculifemur, of the glassy-winged sharsphooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis, for a neoclassical biological control program in California. Two molecular methods, inter-simple sequence repeat-polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) DNA fingerprinting and a phylogenetic approach inferred by the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI). Five geographic populations from South America were analyzed, in addition, a phylogenetic analysis was performed with several named and two unnamed Gonatocerus species using the COI gene. DNA fingerprinting demonstrated a fixed geographic banding pattern difference in the population from San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina. The COI analysis uncovered haplotype or geographic structure in G. tuberculifemur. A neighbor-joining distance and a single most parsimonious tree clustered the populations into two well-supported distinct clades with strong bootstrap values (96-100% and 91-98%, respectively) with populations from San Rafael clustering into clade 2 and the rest of the populations clustering into clade 1. No haplotype sharing was observed between individuals from the two clades. Phylogenetic analyses performed by neighbor-joining and parsimony methods with 15 Gonatocerus species confirmed species boundaries and again uncovered two distinct clades in G. tuberculifemur with strong bootstrap support (95-100% and 69-100%, respectively). However, the neighbor-joining method performed better at defining phylogenetic relationships among the Gonatocerus species. The molecular evidence in the present study is suggestive of a species level divergence. Because G. tuberculifemur is under consideration as a potential biological control agent for the invasive GWSS in California, understanding possible cryptic variation in this species is critical.