Argentine researchers announce sequencing of the Dalbulus maidis genome

Team of experts from the Agricultural Research Center (CIAP) of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of the Bioeconomy Secretariat of the Argentine Ministry of Economy announced the sequencing, assembly and complete annotation of the genome of Dalbulus maidis, known as the corn leafhopper.

According to information from INTA, in addition to facilitating control of the pest, the research will provide valuable information about the biology, distribution and evolution of the insect, helping to predict and mitigate future outbreaks. This knowledge will allow the development of more precise and specific strategies for its control.

The research also opens doors for the genetic improvement of corn, enabling the development of varieties that are more resistant to diseases transmitted by leafhoppers. Understanding insect immunity genes, identifying potential targets for new insecticides and interaction with infected plants are some of the promising applications of the study.

Sequencing the genome of the Dalbulus maidis involved analyzing the DNA of 20 specimens of the insect, raised under controlled conditions at INTA's Institute of Plant Pathology. Using a hybrid approach, combining ONT (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) technologies for long reads and Illumina for short reads, the researchers achieved a first draft of the genome in just 48 hours.

The assembly of the genome, described by coordinator Franco Fernández as a complex puzzle, was followed by a detailed bioinformatics analysis. This step involved identifying genes, regulatory regions and other genomic features, comparing the planthopper genome with other species to infer genetic functions and evolutionary relationships.