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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312560
Title: Genome sequence of the first coleopteran iflavirus isolated from western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte

Author
item LIU, SIJUN - Iowa State University
item CHEN, YUTING - Iowa State University
item Sappington, Thomas
item BONNING, BRYONY - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Genome Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2016
Publication Date: 2/9/2017
Citation: Liu, S., Chen, Y., Sappington, T.W., Bonning, B.C. 2017. Genome sequence of the first coleopteran iflavirus isolated from western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte. Genome Announcements. 5(6):e01530-16. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01530-16.

Interpretive Summary: Western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is the worst insect pest of maize in North America and is invasive in Europe. Management of WCR in the United States depends primarily on transgenic plants that express Bacillus thiringiensis (Bt) insecticidal toxins, but populations resistant to Bt toxins have been reported. Hence, novel control strategies for WCR management are needed. WCR adults were collected from cornfields in the United States (Iowa, Arizona, Pennsylvania), and Europe (Hungary, Croatia, Austria), and RNA was extracted and sequenced to determine if virus sequences were present. The genome sequence of a novel iflavirus was identified from the RNA, the first iflavirus ever found in a beetle. Small RNA viruses of insects such as iflaviruses have potential for insect pest management. This information will be used by university, government, and industry scientists in their search for, and development of, possible biocontrol agents for rootworms and other beetle pests of crops.

Technical Abstract: Western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, adults were collected from cornfields in the United States (Iowa, Arizona, Pennsylvania), and Europe (Hungary, Croatia, Austria). Total RNA was extracted from ~100 individuals from different locations, and putative viral RNA was isolated from virions. The genome sequence of a virus was identified from the rootworm tanscriptome. The RNA sequence consists of 9,823 nucleotides (nt) with a 3’ polyadenylated tail, containing a single open reading frame that encodes a 3,028 amino-acid polyprotein. BLASTp annotation of this polyprotein revealed six picornavirus-like conserved domains, including three structural protein domains at the N-terminus, and three non-structural protein domains at the C-terminus. Presence of the virus in WCR adults was confirmed by RT-PCR. Based on arrangement of conserved domains, we conclude that this virus is a novel insect iflavirus.