Abstract

Phytoplasmas are transmitted by insect vectors in a persistent propagative manner; however, detailed movements and multiplication patterns of phytoplasmas within vectors remain elusive. In this study, spatiotemporal dynamics of onion yellows (OY) phytoplasma in its vector Macrosteles striifrons were investigated by immunohistochemistry-based 3D imaging, whole-mount fluorescence staining, and real-time quantitative PCR. The results indicated that OY phytoplasmas entered the anterior midgut epithelium by seven days after acquisition start (daas), then moved to visceral muscles surrounding the midgut and to the hemocoel at 14–21 daas; finally, OY phytoplasmas entered into type III cells of salivary glands at 21–28 daas. The anterior midgut of the alimentary canal and type III cells of salivary glands were identified as the major sites of OY phytoplasma infection. Fluorescence staining further revealed that OY phytoplasmas spread along the actin-based muscle fibers of visceral muscles and accumulated on the surfaces of salivary gland cells. This accumulation would be important for phytoplasma invasion into salivary glands, and thus for successful insect transmission. This study demonstrates the spatiotemporal dynamics of phytoplasmas in insect vectors. The findings from this study will aid in understanding of the underlying mechanism of insect-borne plant pathogen transmission.

Details

Title
Spatiotemporal dynamics and quantitative analysis of phytoplasmas in insect vectors
Author
Koinuma Hiroaki 1 ; Maejima Kensaku 1 ; Tokuda Ryosuke 1 ; Kitazawa Yugo 1 ; Nijo Takamichi 1 ; Wei, Wei 2 ; Kumita Kohei 1 ; Miyazaki Akio 1 ; Namba Shigetou 1 ; Yamaji Yasuyuki 1 

 Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan (GRID:grid.26999.3d) (ISNI:0000 0001 2151 536X) 
 Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, USA (GRID:grid.463419.d) (ISNI:0000 0004 0404 0958) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2375480294
Copyright
This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.