Anatomical study of the female reproductive system and bacteriome of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, (Insecta: Hemiptera, Liviidae) using micro-computed tomography

Abstract

Huanglongbing (HLB) (citrus greening disease) is one of the most serious bacterial diseases of citrus. it is caused by (1) Candidatus Liberibacter africanus, transmitted by Trioza erytreae and (2) C.L. asiaticus and C.L. americanus, transmitted by Diaphorina citri. As part of a multidisciplinary project on D. citri (www.citrusgreening.org), we made a detailed study, using micro-computed tomography, of the female abdominal terminalia, reproductive system (ovaries, accessory glands, spermatheca, colleterial (= cement) gland, connecting ducts, and ovipositor) and bacteriome, which we present here. new terms and structures are introduced and described, particularly concerning the spermatheca, ovipositor and bacteriome. the quality of images and bacteriome reconstructions are comparable, or clearer, than those previously published using a synchrotron or fluorescence in situ hybridisation (fiSH). this study: reviews knowledge of the female reproductive system and bacteriome organ in D. citri; represents the first detailed morphological study of D. citri to use micro-ct; and extensively revises existing morphological information relevant to psylloids, hemipterans and insects in general. High quality images and supplementary videos represent a significant advance in knowledge of psylloid anatomy and are useful tools for future research and as educational aids.

Yeast associated with flower longicorn beetle Leptura ochraceofasciata (Cerambycidae: Lepturinae), with implication for its function in symbiosis

“…Recently, the morphology of symbiont-carrying organs of insects has been observed in a non-destructive way using X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT), including mycetangia in ambrosia beetles (e.g., [ 11 , 12 ]) and the hemipteran bacteriome (bacteria-carrying organ) [ 13 ]. This technique can produce detailed 3D images of microstructures located inside the body, which contributes to a better understanding of insect-microbe associations.…”

Candidatus Kirkpatrickella diaphorinae gen. nov., sp. nov., an uncultured endosymbiont identified in a population of Diaphorina citri from Hawaii

“…Carsonella ruddii and Ca. Profftella armatura have significantly reduced genomes and are housed in a specialized organ called the bacteriome before the cells migrate to the ovules to be vertically transmitted to the progeny [3,[7][8][9][10]. Due to the global distribution of D. citri throughout citrus growing regions, it is possible that populations of D. citri are exposed to and co-evolve with other microbial symbionts found in different global regions.…”

Exploring Compound Eyes in Adults of Four Coleopteran Species Using Synchrotron X-ray Phase-Contrast Microtomography (SR-PhC Micro-CT)

“…This method avoids artefacts resulting from invasive dissections, followed by relatively time-consuming fixing and physical tissue slicing, required for image analyses under light and electron microscopy. Indeed, micro-CT has proven to be useful for virtual dissections, 3D reconstruction and morphological descriptions of the head [ 1 , 2 ], muscles [ 2 , 3 , 4 ], brain [ 5 ], digestive [ 6 , 7 ] and reproductive [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ] systems, as well as insect fossils [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Moreover, Synchrotron radiation X-ray phase-contrast microtomography (SR-PhC micro-CT) allows the use of high-resolution imaging coupled with segmentation, for 3D morphological analyses with high image contrast-to-noise ratios in biological tissues, and does not require the use of contrast agents, even in samples with weak X-ray absorption [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”