Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges

Abstract Three species of cecidomyiid midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) cause significant yield losses on wheat in Europe: Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), Contarinia tritici (Kirby) and Haplodiplosis marginata (von Roser). Eggs and young larvae may be parasitised by a complex of hymenopteran parasitoi...

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Main Authors: Dominique Mingeot, Sandrine Chavalle, Peter Neerup Buhl, Gontran Sonet, Benjamin Dubois, Louis Hautier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79398-9
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author Dominique Mingeot
Sandrine Chavalle
Peter Neerup Buhl
Gontran Sonet
Benjamin Dubois
Louis Hautier
author_facet Dominique Mingeot
Sandrine Chavalle
Peter Neerup Buhl
Gontran Sonet
Benjamin Dubois
Louis Hautier
author_sort Dominique Mingeot
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Three species of cecidomyiid midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) cause significant yield losses on wheat in Europe: Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), Contarinia tritici (Kirby) and Haplodiplosis marginata (von Roser). Eggs and young larvae may be parasitised by a complex of hymenopteran parasitoids belonging to the Pteromalidae and Platygastridae families which contributes to natural pest control. We have developed molecular tools for detecting and identifying seven parasitoid species previously encountered in Belgium inside individual wheat midge larvae. Barcode DNA sequences from COI, 18S and 28S genes were obtained from the midges and parasitoid species. Each of the three genes allowed all the species to be distinguished although 18S was the only one displaying a barcoding gap, both between parasitoids and midges, and at the species level. Based on the 18S gene, we developed a TaqMan assay to assess parasitism in midge larvae, regardless of the midge and parasitoid species. Next, two group-specific PCR primer pairs were generated, allowing the separate amplification of midge DNA or parasitoid DNA in parasitised individuals and subsequent identification by Sanger sequencing. Finally, species-specific primers were designed to identify six parasitoid species by simple PCR amplification. These tools were successfully applied to assess the parasitism rate of S. mosellana larvae in seven Belgian fields.
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spelling doaj-art-de289942732c4353af3f9d468c84a37b2024-11-17T12:24:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-79398-9Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midgesDominique Mingeot0Sandrine Chavalle1Peter Neerup Buhl2Gontran Sonet3Benjamin Dubois4Louis Hautier5Bioengineering Unit, Life Sciences Department, Walloon Agricultural Research CentrePlant and Forest Health Unit, Life Sciences Department, Walloon Agricultural Research CentreNatural History Museum of DenmarkJoint Experimental Molecular Unit (JEMU), Operational Directorate Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBioengineering Unit, Life Sciences Department, Walloon Agricultural Research CentrePlant and Forest Health Unit, Life Sciences Department, Walloon Agricultural Research CentreAbstract Three species of cecidomyiid midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) cause significant yield losses on wheat in Europe: Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), Contarinia tritici (Kirby) and Haplodiplosis marginata (von Roser). Eggs and young larvae may be parasitised by a complex of hymenopteran parasitoids belonging to the Pteromalidae and Platygastridae families which contributes to natural pest control. We have developed molecular tools for detecting and identifying seven parasitoid species previously encountered in Belgium inside individual wheat midge larvae. Barcode DNA sequences from COI, 18S and 28S genes were obtained from the midges and parasitoid species. Each of the three genes allowed all the species to be distinguished although 18S was the only one displaying a barcoding gap, both between parasitoids and midges, and at the species level. Based on the 18S gene, we developed a TaqMan assay to assess parasitism in midge larvae, regardless of the midge and parasitoid species. Next, two group-specific PCR primer pairs were generated, allowing the separate amplification of midge DNA or parasitoid DNA in parasitised individuals and subsequent identification by Sanger sequencing. Finally, species-specific primers were designed to identify six parasitoid species by simple PCR amplification. These tools were successfully applied to assess the parasitism rate of S. mosellana larvae in seven Belgian fields.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79398-9DNA barcodingTaqManWheat midge parasitoidsCecidomyiidaePterolamidaePlatygastridae
spellingShingle Dominique Mingeot
Sandrine Chavalle
Peter Neerup Buhl
Gontran Sonet
Benjamin Dubois
Louis Hautier
Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges
Scientific Reports
DNA barcoding
TaqMan
Wheat midge parasitoids
Cecidomyiidae
Pterolamidae
Platygastridae
title Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges
title_full Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges
title_fullStr Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges
title_full_unstemmed Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges
title_short Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges
title_sort molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges
topic DNA barcoding
TaqMan
Wheat midge parasitoids
Cecidomyiidae
Pterolamidae
Platygastridae
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79398-9
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