Publications

4485

The strain TOYAMA8T is a deep-sea alkaliphilic cellulolytic bacterium isolated from a slurry-adhered epiphytic site of Megalodicopia hians. Cells of this strain are Gram-negative, aerobic, curved rods or spirilla, motile with monopolar flagella, and grow on cellulose as the sole carbon source. Compared to other closely related species, this bacterium is characterized by a large number of cellulase genes. Strain TOYAMA8T showed alkaliphilic growth within the pH range 7.5–9.0. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7, C14 : 0, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1 ω7. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified phospholipids and aminolipids. A major respiratory lipoquinone was Q-9. Phylogenomic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequence data showed that the strain is related to the families Gynuellaceae, Saccharospirillaceae and Natronospirillaceae. The values of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, amino acid identity and percentage of conserved proteins between the strain TOYAMA8T and related species were low, with maximum values of 90.6, 48.1 and 34.6%, respectively. These results, together with differences in phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, indicate that the new isolate TOYAMA8T represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Marinicellulosiphila megalodicopiae gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is TOYAMA8T (JCM 31119T=DSM 114864T).

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is the vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), the causal agent of citrus greening or Huanglongbing (HLB), one of the most devastating citrus diseases worldwide. The citrus industry in Georgia (U.S.A.) is in the process of a rapid expansion, and based on experiences with HLB in Florida, there is great concern about the potential impacts of HLB on this emerging industry. Prior to 2023, ACP had been identified in residential citrus trees in isolated Georgia counties, but little to no testing of psyllids for CLas had occurred. However, in 2023, one individual psyllid collected from Chatham County was confirmed positive for CLas by PCR and sequencing. Furthermore, during 2023, ACP adults and nymphs were identified for the first time in a Georgia commercial citrus grove. The finding of ACP in a commercial planting represents a significant risk for CLas dissemination and thereby has the potential to stall the rapid expansion of Georgia’s citrus industry. In the coming years, surveillance and testing of ACP from commercial groves will be essential for the early detection and management of HLB and its vector to reduce HLB spread within Georgia’s commercial groves.

Phytoplasmas cause infections in numerous plants in agricultural ecosystems, causing significant yield and quality losses in products. In recent years, it has been known that diseases caused by phytoplasmas cause economic losses in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivation. In Turkey, research on infections caused by phytoplasmas in eggplant growing areas is quite limited. This study was carried out to detect phytoplasma infections symptomatologically and molecularly in eggplant production areas in Şanlıurfa province. Fourteen samples were collected from eggplants exhibiting symptoms such as witches’ broom, flower abnormalities (virescence, phyllody), elongation of the pedicle, arising of new shoots from flower parts, yellowing and proliferation. Phytoplasma infection was detected in 8 symptomatic samples using 16S rRNA-specific primers, P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2, by direct and nested PCR. Sequence information of fragments obtained as a result of molecular studies was extracted and BLAST analyses were performed. According to nucleotide sequence similarity in the 16S rRNA gene region, it was determined that the genetic group of phytoplasma causing infection in eggplant was related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (CaPsol) belonging to 16SrXII-A subgroup with 98% sequence identity. To our best knowledge, this study suggests comprehensive symptomatic diagnosis of CaPsol infecting eggplants in Türkiye.

AbstractThe Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, is the primary vector of the HLB pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). The acquisition of CLas shortens the developmental period of nymphs, accelerating the emergence into adulthood and thereby facilitating the spread of CLas. Cuticular proteins (CPs) are involved in insect emergence. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying CLas‐promoted emergence in D. citri via CP mediation. Here, a total of 159 CP genes were first identified in the D. citri genome. Chromosomal location analysis revealed an uneven distribution of these CP genes across the 13 D. citri chromosomes. Proteomic analysis identified 54 differentially expressed CPs during D. citri emergence, with 14 CPs exhibiting significant differential expression after CLas acquisition. Five key genes, Dc18aa‐1, Dc18aa‐2, DcCPR‐24, DcCPR‐38 and DcCPR‐58, were screened from the proteome and CLas acquisition. The silencing of these 5 genes through a modified feeding method significantly reduced the emergence rate and caused various abnormal phenotypes, indicating the crucial role that these genes play in D. citri emergence. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the role of CPs in D. citri and reveals that CLas can influence the emergence process of D. citri by regulating the expression of CPs. These key CPs may serve as potential targets for future research on controlling huanglongbing (HLB) transmission.