A metabarcoding approach was performed aimed at identifying fungi associated with
Delphacodes kuscheli
(Hemiptera: Delphacidae), the main vector of “Mal de Río Cuarto” disease in Argentina. A total of 91 fungal genera were found, and among them, 24 were previously identified for Delphacidae. The detection of fungi that are frequently associated with the phylloplane or are endophytes, as well as their presence in digestive tracts of other insects, suggest that feeding might be an important mechanism of their horizontal transfer in planthoppers. This study draws the baseline for future research regarding mutualistic associations present in
D. kuscheli
as well as their physiological role in the life cycle of this important pest that might lead to developing new management strategies to keep insects populations under control.
Delphacodes kuscheli, the main vector of maize Mal de Río Cuarto disease in Argentina, was used to analyze the effect of food quality on wing-form, demographic traits and number of yeast-like symbionts (YLS). First instar nymphs were caged on the leaf apex or on the ligular zone of oat plants, characterized by having low and high nutritional value respectively, and followed in their development to adulthood. Food quality affected the proportion of wing morphs, with an increased number of brachypterous individuals on the higher food quality zone. Macropterous and brachypterous females from the ligular zone had higher survivorship, shorter development time and higher number of YLS. For males, development time and number of YLS did not differ significantly in individuals fed from both zones, while body and wing length were superior in individuals fed on the ligular zone. Results suggest that females allocate the resources from feeding on a richer zone to reduce the pre-reproductive period and to increase the number of YLS, and males acquire a larger size while maintaining development time and YLS number. This is the first study quantifying the variation of number of YLS according to food quality in a Neotropical planthopper pest.
RESUMEN
The planthopper Delphacodes kuscheli is the main vector of Mal de Río Cuarto virus in Argentina, disease that severely affects maize production. In this study, we investigated the effects of heat stress on fitness traits and on the number of its obligate yeast‐like symbionts (YLS). The exposition of newly‐hatched nymphs to 35°C for 3 days, a well‐known procedure used to reduce the number of YLS in planthoppers, was applied. To compare different fitness components between control and heat‐treated insects, we estimated nymphal instars development time, nymphal survival, adult body length, longevity, fecundity and fertility. Also, correlates of fitness, as proportion of sexes and wing forms of the emerging adults, were evaluated. In heat‐treated group, the nymphal developmental time increased due to an increase in the fifth instar duration, and the nymphal survival, body length of adults and fecundity were reduced when compared to control. There was a significant association between treatments (control and heat‐treated insects) and wing morphs. The heat treatment successfully reduced the number of YLS in third instar nymphs of D. kuscheli. Our results revealed the negative effect of heat stress on development, survival and reproduction of D. kuscheli and on the load of its YLS endosymbionts suggesting that YLS could play a crucial role in the development and reproduction of these planthoppers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.