Estimation of genome size of Brevipalpus phoenicis

• Grant number: 11/22291-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Valdenice Moreira Novelli
• Grantee: Marcela Pagoti Bergamini Lopes
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The citrus industry is one of the most important agricultural activities for the Brazilian economy, however, there are numerous pests and diseases that affect the industry. Among them citrus leprosis, caused by the virus Citrus leprosis virus (CiLV) and transmitted by Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Leprosis is considered one of the viral diseases of major impact to the citrus industry in São Paulo state. The genus Brevipalpus have been the focus of attention for its vector capacity and are now known to be responsible for transmitting several plant virus to other major crops of economic importance. In Brazil, for being the vector of citrus leprosis, B. phoenicis mite is undoubtedly the most interesting, showing widespread and serious damage. This species has some special features, among them the reproduction by parthenogenesis and thelytokous, high resistance to acaricides. Due to the increasing importance of leprosis in the world, strategies for vector control are extremely desirable because in the last ten years there has been a significant advance in understanding the leprosy pathosystem, including the complete sequencing of cytoplasmic virus type leprosis (CiLV-C); but are still little information on molecular aspects of the mite. Among these strategies, sequencing the genome of B. phoenicis can enable relevant information on the biology and evolution of this species. However, defining the most appropriate methodology to sequencing is required preliminary information, such as the size of the genome of the species. Therefore, the objective of this project is to estimate the genome size of B. phoenicis through different methodologies, providing input to the sequencing of the mite.(AU)