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Title: Microarray analysis of diapause in the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis: Hemiptera)

Author
item Hunter, Wayne
item NORTHFIELD, T - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item MIZELL, R - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item Hall, David

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Regional Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2008
Publication Date: 3/2/2008
Citation: Hunter, W.B., Northfield, T., Mizell, R., Hall, D.G. 2008. Microarray analysis of diapause in the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis: Hemiptera). Southeastern Branch of Entomological Society of America.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We identified several genes from the pathway which controls leafhopper diapause. Diapause in the glassy-winged sharpshooter, GWSS, Homalodisca vitripennis, is poorly understood, yet is an important physiological condition which permits leafhoppers to survive adverse conditions such as winter temperatures. An oligonucleotide microarray was developted to address the specificities of transcriptional responses of adult female GWSS, which were in diapause. Three different lighting regimes were used. Two of these lighting regimes were known to induce oviposition in diapause females under greenhouse conditions during winter months. We examined female gene expression during diapause and during the breaking of diapause induced by light. Upon ‘breaking’ diapause, the ovaries became active and females produced eggs similar to springtime conditions. Twenty-two individual GWSS adult females were compared. Each individual was hybridized to a single chip. There were 6 individuals in the control group, and 8 individuals in each treatment. Using strict criteria (a twofold change in expression), we determined that a definable number of genes were differentially expressed between the diapause females within the three lighting regimes. Of the 2,126 genes surveyed, 5 genes showed an increase in expression and 2 showed a decrease in expression (at least a 2.2-fold change) compared to control conditions. Identification of these genes builds the foundation for further functional genomics to be conducted to elucidate leafhopper diapause. These will become genetic targets for emerging technologies which will silence or ‘down-regulate’ genetic responses thus preventing survival of leafhoppers under winter conditions.