Abstract
Sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) are important vectors of the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae). This pathogen causes economically significant diseases in olive, citrus, and grapes on multiple continents. Bacterial acquisition and inoculation mechanisms are linked to X. fastidiosa biofilm formation and fluid dynamics in the functional foregut of sharpshooters, which together result in egestion (expulsion) of fluids likely carrying bacteria. One key X. fastidiosa vector is the blue–green sharpshooter, Graphocephala atropunctata (Signoret, 1854). Herein, a 3D model of the blue–green sharpshooter functional foregut is derived from a meta-analysis of published microscopy images. The model is used to illustrate preexisting and newly defined anatomical terminology that is relevant for investigating fluid dynamics in the functional foregut of sharpshooters. The vivid 3D illustrations herein and supplementary interactive 3D figures are suitable resources for multidisciplinary researchers who may be unfamiliar with insect anatomy. The 3D model can also be used in future fluid dynamic simulations to better understand acquisition, retention, and inoculation of X. fastidiosa. Improved understanding of these processes could lead to new targets for preventing diseases caused by X. fastidiosa.
Highlights
Sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) are important vectors of the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae)
Both the acquisition and inoculation mechanisms involve fluid dynamics in the functional foregut during feeding behaviors[2,11,12]
The 3D model mimics the curvature of the blue–green sharpshooter functional foregut with a precision absent in previous models
Summary
Sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) are important vectors of the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae). Sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) feed on plant tissues using their piercingsucking mouthparts, termed s tylets[1] They transmit (acquire, retain, and inoculate) the xylem-limited bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae) during feeding[2]. Xylella fastidiosa is later inoculated via egestion when the vector feeds on healthy grapevine xylem[9,10] Both the acquisition and inoculation mechanisms involve fluid dynamics in the functional foregut (the narrow precibarium leading to the wider cibarium or food pump) during feeding behaviors[2,11,12]. Their model assumed a continuous distribution of bacterial biofilm
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