Annotation of putative circadian rhythm-associated genes in Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Authors: RENOLDS, MAX - Indian River State College; OLIVEIRA, LUCAS - Indian River State College; VOSBURG, CHAD - Indian River State College; PARIS, THOMSON - University Of Florida; MASSIMINO, CRISSY - Indian River State College; NORUS, JORDAN - Indian River State College; ORTIZ, YASMIN - Indian River State College; ESPINO, MICHELLE - Indian River State College; DAVIS, NINA - Indian River State College; MASSE, RON - Indian River State College; NEIMAN, ALAN - Indian River State College; HOLCOMB, RACHEL - Indian River State College; GERVAIS, JTKUE - Indian River State College; KEMP, MELISSA - Indian River State College; HOANG, MARIA TRAM - Indian River State College; SHIPPY, TERESA - Kansas State University; FLORES-GONZALEZ, MIRELLA - Boyce Thompson Institute; PANITZ, NAFTALL - Boyce Thompson Institute; MUELLER, LUKAS - Boyce Thompson Institute; Hunter, Wayne; BENOIT, JOSHUA - University Of Cincinnati; BROWN, SUSAN - Kansas State University; D'ELIA, TOM - Indian River State College; SAHA, SURYA - University Of Arizona

Submitted to: GigaByte
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2021
Publication Date: 5/26/2021
Citation: Renolds, M., Oliveira, L., Vosburg, C., Paris, T., Massimino, C., Norus, J., Ortiz, Y., Espino, M., Davis, N., Masse, R., Neiman, A., Holcomb, R., Gervais, J., Kemp, M., Hoang, M., Shippy, T.D., Flores-Gonzalez, M., Panitz, N., Mueller, L.A., Hunter, W.B., Benoit, J.B., Brown, S.J., D'Elia, T., Saha, S. 2021. Annotation of putative circadian rhythm-associated genes in Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). GigaByte. https://doi.org/10.46471/gigabyte.21.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46471/gigabyte.21

Interpretive Summary: The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), transmits the bacteria that causes Huanglongbing (Citrus greening disease), which is devastating citrus production worldwide. Currently there are no treatments to manage psyllid vector populations that are spreading the pathogen. However, research shows that psyllid mortality increased when fed on citrus seedlings treated with Ribonucleic acid interference, RNAi, to a specific gene that controlled a critical biological function. Therefore, we identified and annotated twenty-seven genes associated with the Circadian Rhythm of the Asian citrus psyllid. The psyllid circadian gene set provides a new opportunity to develop gene targeting strategies to disrupt critical functions of psyllid biology. Silencing of one or more of the genes regulating the Circadian Rhythm can lead to disruption of the insect’s biology, like delayed development of immatures leading to fewer adults, and/or adults with reduced fecundity, or adults with shorter life spans. Development of RNAi biopesticides to suppress Circadian Rhythm genes will provide new treatments to reduce psyllid vector populations to protect citrus trees from Huanglongbing.

Technical Abstract: The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) transmits the bacterial pathogen that causes Huanglongbing, which is devastating citrus production worldwide. Currently there are no treatments to manage the psyllid populations that spread the pathogen. However, research showed that psyllid mortality is increased when fed on citrus seedlings treated with double stranded ribonucleic acid, to a transcript that controls a critical biological function. The transcript suppression strategy, called RNA interference, RNAi, enables targeting of any specific gene transcript. Therefore, we identified and annotated twenty-seven genes associated with the Circadian Rhythm of the Asian citrus psyllid. The psyllid circadian gene set provides a new opportunity to develop gene-targeting strategies to disrupt psyllid biology. Silencing of one or more of the genes regulating the Circadian Rhythm can lead to disruption of the insect’s biology, like delayed development of immatures leading to fewer adults, and/or adults with reduced fecundity, or adults with shorter life spans. Development of RNAi biopesticides that suppress Circadian Rhythm genes will provide new treatments to reduce psyllid vector populations to protect citrus trees from the spread of Huanglongbing.