Student 10-Minute Presentation
Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity
Student
Student Competition
Joshua Molligan
PhD Student
Université Laval
Québec City, Quebec, Canada
Edel Perez-Lopez
Université Laval
Québec City, Quebec, Canada
Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) comprise one of the largest insect families of Hemiptera and pose a significant threat to agricultural crops worldwide. Canada stands out as a hotspot for Nearctic leafhopper species, hosting approximately 35% of reported diversity. The changing climate carries significant implications for Nearctic leafhoppers, pointing towards anticipated shifts in their population dynamics within the Canadian Nearctic range. Species within Cicadellidae can be highly polyphagous, such as the migratory leafhopper Empoasca fabae, inflicting damage on various crops while simultaneously acting as vectors for plant pathogens. Phytoplasmas are obligate bacteria vectored by leafhoppers that cause malformation in plant reproductive structures, posing potential risks to crop yields. By analyzing Illumina sequencing data obtained from 180 E. fabae specimens collected in southwestern Québec, metagenomic analysis using Kraken2 taxonomic classification indicates that E. fabae potentially acts as a vector for multiple phytoplasma species, including ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, ‘Ca. P. rubi’, ‘Ca. P. mali’, ‘Ca. P. australiense’, ‘Ca. P. ziziphin’, ‘Ca. P. luffae’, and ‘Ca. P. asteris’. This study represents a first report of the identification of multiple ‘Ca. Phytoplasma’ spp.from a migratory leafhopper species in North America. Additionally, this research represents the first incidence of ‘Ca. P. australiense’ identified in North America, a known quarantine pest. Phytoplasma clade read abundances were equally identified among all the samples analyzed, suggestive that E. fabae might act as a migratory vector of diverse phytoplasma species. Our findings underscore the importance of understanding leafhopper-mediated transmission dynamics, particularly in the context of changing climates and migratory patterns.