Bacteriomes of the corn leafhopper, <i>Dalbulus maidis</i> (DeLong & Wolcott, 1923) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) harbor <i>Sulcia</i> symbiont: molecular characterization, ultrastructure, and transovarial transmission

Abstract

In this study, we surveyed the bacteriome-associated microbiota of the corn leafhopper <i>Dalbulus maidis</i> by means of histological, ultrastructural, and molecular analyses. Amplification and sequencing of 16S rDNA genes revealed that the endosymbiont “<i>Candidatus</i> Sulcia muelleri” (Phylum Bacteroidetes) resides in bacteriomes of <i>D. maidis</i>. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequence was closely allied to others found in representatives of the subfamily Deltocephalinae. We failed to amplify other sequences as “<i>Candidatus</i> Nasuia deltocephalinicola,” a co-primary symbiont frequently associated to deltocephaline leafhoppers. In addition, a metagenetic analysis carried out in order to investigate the presence of other bacteriome-associated bacteria of <i>D. maidis</i> showed that the sequence of <i>Sulcia</i> accounted for 98.56 % of all the sequences. Histological and ultrastructural observations showed that microorganisms harbored in bacteriomes (central syncytium and cytoplasm of uninucleate bacteriocytes) look like others <i>Sulcia</i> described in hemipteran species and they were transovarially transmitted from mother to offspring which is typical of obligate endosymbionts. The only presence of <i>Sulcia</i> in the bacteriomes of <i>D. maidis</i> was discussed.