Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Studies on the fungi associated with the glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca coagulata with emphasis on a new species Hirsutella homalodiscae nom. prov.

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
BioControl Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca coagulata (Say), is an efficient vector of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xyllela fastidiosa. Native to the Southeast US, it was introduced to California, where its presence has caused a sharp increase in X. fastidiosa-based disease. Here are described three fungi associated with GWSS in its native range, including a Hirsutella species that is the predominant mycopathogen detected in sampled GWSS populations. Also described are potentially novel species of Pseudogibellula and Sporothrix. Data garnered from examination of in␣situ and in vitro morphological characters were compared to published keys and type specimen descriptions to achieve morphology-based identification. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and partial sequences of the large subunit (LSU)-rDNA, actin, and β-tubulin genes of several GWSS Hirsutella isolates were sequenced and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis of the LSU-rDNA and tubulin of the GWSS Hirsutella in combination with sequence data generated from other Hirsutella species defined the GWSS isolates to belong to subgroup II within this genus. The combination of phenotypic and genotypic data demonstrated GWSS Hirsutella to be a new species and as such, has been designated Hirsutella homalodiscae nom. prov. Species-specific PCR primers, designed from intron and exon regions of the actin and tubulin genes, were used in a multiplex reaction for the in situ identification of H. homalodiscae. A total of 246 mummified GWSS collected from sites in the southeastern US were subjected to multiplex PCR analysis. More than 70% of these samples tested positive for the presence of H. homalodiscae demonstrating it to be the major mycopathogen distributed throughout the native range of GWSS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alderz W.C. (1980). Ecological observations on two leafhoppers that transmit the Pierce’s disease bacteria. Proc. Florida State Hort. Soc. 93:115–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Altschul S.F., Madden T.L., Schaffer A.A., Zhang J., Zhang Z., Miller W., Lipman D.J. (1997). Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389–3402

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen P.C., Brodbeck B.V. (1989). Diurnal and temporal variations in the chemical profile of xylem exudate from Vitus rotundifolia. Physiol. Plant 75:63–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen P.C., Brodbeck B.V., Mizell R.F. III (1989). Metabolism of amino acids, organic acids and sugars extracted from the xylem fluid of four host plants by adult Homalodisca coagulata. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 50:149–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bethke J.A., Campbell K.A., Blua M.J., Redak R.A., Yanega D.A. (2001). Range extension of Pseneo punctatus Fox and notes on predation of an introduced sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say). Pan-Pacific Entomol. 77:54–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodbeck B.V., Mizell R.F. III, French W.J., Andersen P.C., Aldrich J.H., (1990). Amino acids as determinants of host preference for the xylem feeding leafhopper, Homalodisca coagulata (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Oecologia 83:338–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler D., Davidson G., Pell J.K., Ball B.V., Shaw K., Suderland K.D. (2000). Fungal biocontrol of Acari. Biocont. Sci. Technol. 10:357–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen S.Y., Liu X.Z., Chen F.J. (2000). Hirsutella minnesotensis sp. nov. – a new pathogen of the soybean cyst nematode. Mycologia 92:819–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Curran J., Driver F., Ballard J.W.O., Milner R.J., (1994). Phylogeny of Metarhizium: analysis of ribosomal DNA sequence data. Mycol. Res. 98:547–552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Hoog G.S. (1974). The genus Blastobotrys, Sporothrix, Calcarisporium and Calcarisporella gen. nov. Stud. Mycol. 7:1–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Farris J.S., Källersjö M., Kluge A.G., Bult C. (1994). Testing significance of incongruence. Cladistics 10:315–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins D.L. (1989). Xylella fastidiosa: a xylem-limited bacterial pathogen of plants. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 27:271–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins D.L., Purcell A.H. (2002). Xylella fastidiosa: cause of Pierce’s disease of grapevine and other emergent diseases. Plant Dis. 86:1056–1066

    Google Scholar 

  • Hywel-Jones H.G. (1997). Hirsutella species associated with hoppers (Homoptera) in Thailand. Mycol. Res. 101:1202–1206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffee B.A. (2000). Augmentation of soil with the nematophagous fungi Hirsutella rhossiliensis and Arthrobotrys haptotyla. Phytopathology 90:498–504

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanga L.H.B., Jones W.A., Humber R.A., Boyd D.W. Jr., (2004). Fungal pathogens of the glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca coagulata (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Fla. Entomol. 87:225–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiffer E., Morelet M. (2000). The Deuteromycetes : Mitosporic Fungi, Classification and Generic Keys. Science Publishers, Enfeld, NH

    Google Scholar 

  • Kishino H., Hasegawa M. (1989). Evaluation of the maximum likelihood estimate of the evolutionary tree topologies from DNA sequence data, and the branching order in hominoidea. J. Mol. Evol. 29:170–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurtzman C.P., Robnett C.J. (1997). Identification of clinically important ascomycetous yeasts based on nucleotide divergence in the 5′ end of the large-subunit (26S) ribosomal DNA gene. J. Clin. Microbiol. 35:1216–1223

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee K.L., Buckley H.R., Campell C.C. (1975). An amino acid liquid synthetic medium for development of mycelial and yeast forms of Candida albicans. Sabouraudia 13:148–153

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim T.K., Chung G.F. (1995). Occurrence of the entomopathogen, Hirsutella versicolor Petch, on Idioscopus nitidulus Wlk., the mango leafhopper, in Malaysia. Planter 71:207–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipscomb D.L., Farris J.S., Källersjö M., Tehler A. (1998). Support, ribosomal sequences and the phylogeny of the eukaryotes. Cladistics 14:303–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockhart P.J., Steel M.A., Penny D. (1994). Recovering the correct tree under a more realistic model of evolution. Mol. Biol. Evol. 11:605–612

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maddison D.R., Maddison W.P. (2000). MacClade 4: Analysis of Phylogeny and Character Evolution. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Mass

    Google Scholar 

  • Maimala S., Tartar A., Boucias D., Chandrapatya A. (2002). Detection of the toxin hirsutellin A from Hirsutella thompsonii. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 80:112–126

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mains E.B. (1949). New species of Torrubiella, Hirsutella and Gibellula. Mycologia 41:303–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattson W.J. (1980). Herbivory in relation to plant nitrogen content. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11:119–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCoy C.W. (1981). Pest control by the fungus Hirsutella thompsonii. In: Burges H.D. (eds), Microbial Control of Pest and Plant Diseases, 1970–1980. Academic Press, London, pp. 499–512

    Google Scholar 

  • McCoy, C.W., 1996. Pathogens of eriophyid mites. In: E.E. Lindquist, M.W. Sabelis and J. Bruin (eds), Eriophyid Mites: Their Biology, Natural Enemies, and Control. Elsevier Science. pp. 481–490

  • Minter D.W., Brady B.L. (1980). Mononematous species of Hirsutella. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 74:271–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mizell R.F., III, French W.J. (1986). Leafhopper vectors of phony peach disease: feeding site preference and survival on infected and uninfected peach, and Seasonal response to selected host plants. J. Entomol. Sci. 22:11–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Purcell A.H. (1979). Leafhopper vectors of xylem-borne plant pathogens. In: K. Maramorosch and K.F. Harris (eds), Leafhopper Vectors and Plant Disease Agents. Academic, New York. pp. 603–625

    Google Scholar 

  • Purcell A.H. (1989). Homopteran transmission of xylem-inhabiting bacteria. In: Harris K.F., (ed), Advances in Disease Vector Research. Springer-Verlag, New York. pp. 243–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Samson R.A., Evans H.C. (1973). Notes on entomogenous fungi from Ghana. I. The genera Gibellula and Pseudogibellula. Acta Bot. Neerl. 22:522–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Samson R.A., Evans H.C., Latgé J.P. (1988). Atlas of Entomopathogenic Fungi. Springer Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Samson R.A., Van Reenen-Hoekstra E.S., Evans H.C. (1989). New Species of Torrubiella Ascomycotina Clavipitales on insects in Ghana. Stud. Mycol. 31:123–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Swofford D.L. (2000). PAUP*. Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (*and Other Methods). Version 4. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tartar A., Boucias D., Adams B., Becnel J. (2002). Phylogenetic analysis identifies the invertebrate pathogen Helicosporidium sp. as a green algae (Chlorophyta). Int. J. System. Evol. Microbiol. 52:273–279

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson J.D., Gibson T.J., Plewniak F., Jeanmougin F., Higgins D.G. (1997). The CLUSTAL-X windows interface: flexible strategies for multiple sequence alignment aided by quality analysis tools. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:4876–4882

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Travassos L.R. (1985). Sporothrix schenckii. In: Szaniszlo P.J. and Harris J.L. (eds), Fungal Dimorphism. Plenum Press, New York and London, pp. 121–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Triapitsyn S.V., Hoddle M.S., Morgan D.J.W. (2002). A new distribution and host record for Gonatocerus trigattus in Florida, with notes on Acmopolynema sema (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). Fla Entomol. 85:654–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Triapitsyn S.V., Mizell R.F., III, Bossart J.L., Carlton C.E. (1998). Egg parasitoids of Homalodisca coagulata (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Fla Entomol. 81:241–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner W.F., Pollard H.N. (1959). Life histories and behavior of five insect vectors of phony peach disease. US Dept. Agric. Tech. Bull. 1188:1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Geest L.P.S., Elliot S.L., Breeuwer J.A.J., Beerling E.A.M. (2000). Diseases of mites. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 24:497–560

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank both Dr. Byron Adams (Brigham Young University, Utah) for providing invaluable support and advice on the phylogenetic analyses of the sequence data Dr. V. Blaeske for her critical review, and Dr. James Kimbrough (Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida) who assisted in the initial descriptions of the fungi detected on the GWSS. We would also like to thank Tracy Conklin for providing technical support during the initial phase of this project. Additionally we acknowledge the technical support of the ICBR-EM Core Lab and the Sequencing Core Facilities UFL, Gainesville, FL. This work was supported by a grant from the University of California Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and Pierces Disease Grant Program (R.F.M. and D.G.B. Agreement #2502-74442-12461). Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No.10925.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, PO Box 110620, Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, Fl, 32601, USA

    Drion Garth Boucias, Dansia W. Scharf, Samuel E. Breaux, Dusty H. Purcell & Russell E. Mizell

Authors
  1. Drion Garth Boucias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dansia W. Scharf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Samuel E. Breaux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dusty H. Purcell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Russell E. Mizell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Drion Garth Boucias.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boucias, D.G., Scharf, D.W., Breaux, S.E. et al. Studies on the fungi associated with the glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca coagulata with emphasis on a new species Hirsutella homalodiscae nom. prov.. BioControl 52, 231–258 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-006-9019-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-006-9019-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation