ABSTRACT
The first records of outbreaks of the Pine Spittle bug Ocoaxo assimilis Walker were recently identified from Puebla, Mexico, which promoted more than 2600 ha of forest foliar fall. Beyond the taxonomic and distribution information of this species, the basic traits of its biology remain unknown. This study aims to describe some biological aspects of O. assimilis, in a natural pine forest at Nicolás Bravo, Puebla (NB). Using morphological characteristics and a phylogenetic analysis of a fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit I mtDNA (COI), immature instars with adults were studied; the instar number was determined by means of a multivariate analysis of 19 morphological characteristics of 121 specimens. The systematic sampling to evaluate the occurrence of nymphal specimens during a year, plus host selection experiments, allowed for determination of the abundance over time, voltism, and host preferences. Phylogenetic analysis of the COI supported that both nymphs and adults collected in NB correspond to O. assimilis. Principal coordinate analysis supported the existence of five nymphal stages. Field sampling and host selection experiments indicated that this species displays a single generation per year, is associated with the rainy season, and that specimens from the three first nymphal stages feed on roots of eight host species (one grass, four herbaceous species, one bush, and two trees). From the fourth instar, the insects feed on pine roots to complete their development, and when they are adults, they migrate to needles of young or mature pine stands of Pinus pseudostrobus to feed and reproduce.
ABSTRACT
En plantaciones de alstroemeria (Alstroemeria L.) de Villa Guerrero, Estado de México, se han detectado plantas con síntomas similares a los inducidos por geminivirus en otros cultivos hortícolas. En dichas plantaciones también se ha observado la presencia de la mosquita blanca, considerada como el vector más eficiente de estos virus. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue detectar la presencia de geminivirus en plantas de alstroemeria. Mediante PCR, usando los iniciadores MotCP2118/MotCP2123, se obtuvo un segmento de ~600pb, similar al del control positivo correspondiente a chile infectado con el begomovirus pepper huasteco yellow vein virus (PHYVV, antes pepper huasteco virus) en plantas sintomáticas, mientras que en las asintomáticas la detección fue negativa. Plantas de Nicotiana glutinosa, N. benthamiana, N. rustica, N. tabacum var. xanthi y Datura stramonium inoculadas por biobalística con ADN total obtenido de alstroemerias con síntomas y positivas a PHYVV mediante PCR, mostraron mosaicos leves y deformación de hojas, mientras que en plantas de Capsicum annuum se observaron mosaicos, necrosis en nervaduras y abultamientos en hojas. Con el ADN de estas plantas también se obtuvieron bandas correspondientes al PHYVV, pero en las monocotiledóneas bombardeadas, incluyendo alstroemeria, no fue detectado el fragmento. La secuencia de oligonucleótidos de los productos de PCR mostró 98% de homología con el begomovirus PHYVV. Aunque no fue posible reproducir en alstroemeria los síntomas observados en campo, sí se evidenció mediante PCR la presencia de un geminivirus similar al PHYVV en tejido de plantas sintomáticas.
In alstroemeria (Alstroemeria L.) plantations located in Villa Guerrero, Mexico State, plants with symptoms similar to those induced by geminivirus in other horticultural crops have been detected. In addition, the presence of whiteflies, which are considered the most efficient vectors of these viruses, has been observed in these plantations. The goal of this work was to detect the presence of this geminivirus species in alstroemeria plants. By means of PCR analysis using primers MotCP2118/MotCP2123, a fragment of ~600pb similar to the amplicon obtained from PHYVV-infected positive control was amplified only from symptomatic plants. Nicotiana glutinosa, N. benthamiana, N. rustica, N. tabacum var. xanthi and Datura stramonium plants were inoculated by bombardment with total DNA obtained from symptomatic alstroemerias and positive to PHYVV by means of PCR. Inoculated plants showed mild mosaics and deformation of leaves, whereas in the leaves of Capsicum annum plants, mosaics, vein necrosis and blisters were observed. Using DNA from these plants as template in PCR, amplicons corresponded to PHYVV were also obtained; however, in bombarded monocotyledons, including alstroemeria, this fragment was not detected. The sequence of oligonucleotides from the PCR products showed 98% homology to PHYVV geminivirus. Even though symptoms presented by alstroemeria plants in the field were not reproduced, the presence of a geminivirus similar to PHYVV in tissue of symptomatic plants was evidenced through PCR.
Em plantações de alstroemeria (Alstroemeria L.) de Villa Guerrero, Estado do México, se tem detectado plantas com sintomas similares aos induzidos por geminivírus em outros cultivos hortícolas. Em ditas plantações também tem sido observada a presença da mosquinha branca, considerada como o vetor mais eficiente destes vírus. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi detectar a presença de geminivírus em plantas de alstroemeria. Mediante PCR, usando os iniciadores MotCP2118/MotCP2123, obteve-se um segmento de ~600pb, similar ao do controle positivo correspondente a chile infectado com o begomovírus pepper huasteco yellow vein virus (PHYVV, antes pepper huasteco virus) em plantas sintomáticas, enquanto que nas assintomáticas a detecção foi negativa. Plantas de Nicotiana glutinosa, N. benthamiana, N. rustica, N. tabacum var. xanthi e Datura stramonium inoculadas por biobalística com DNA total obtido de alstroemerias com sintomas e positivas a PHYVV mediante PCR, mostraram mosaicos leves e deformação de folhas, enquanto que em plantas de Capsicum annuum se observaram mosaicos, necrose em nervaduras e protuberâncias em folhas. Com o DNA destas plantas também se obtiveram bandas correspondentes ao PHYVV, mas nas monocotiledóneas bombardeadas, incluindo alstroemeria, não foi detectado o fragmento. A sequência de oligonucleotídeos dos produtos de PCR mostrou 98% de homologia com o begomovírus PHYVV. Embora não foi possível reproduzir em alstroemeria os sintomas observados em campo, sím foi evidenciada, mediante PCR, a presença de um geminivírus similar ao PHYVV em tecido de plantas sintomáticas.
