Endomycobiome associated with females of the planthopper Delphacodes kuscheli (Hemiptera: Delphacidae): a metabarcoding approach

MEDINA, R.; TOLEDO, A. V.; BRENTASSI, M. E.; FRANCO, M.E.; BALATTI, P.A.; DE LA FUENTE, D.; SAPARRAT, M.C.

HELIYON

Elsevier BV

Año: 2020 vol. 6

A metabarcoding approach was performed aimed at identifying fungi associated withDelphacodes kuscheli (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), the main vector of ?Mal de RíoCuarto? 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 frequentlyassociated with the phylloplane or are endophytes, as well as their presence indigestive tracts of other insects, suggest that feeding might be an importantmechanism of their horizontal transfer in planthoppers. This study draws the baselinefor future research regarding mutualistic associations present in D. kuscheli as well astheir physiological role in the life cycle of this important pest that might lead todeveloping new management strategies to keep insects populations under control.