Quantitative Real-Time PCR Based on SYBR Green Technology for the Identification of <i>Philaenus italosignus</i> Drosopoulos & Remane (Hemiptera Aphrophoridae)
Domenico Rizzo,
Matteo Bracalini,
Sara Campigli,
Anita Nencioni,
Francesco Porcelli,
Guido Marchi,
Daniele Da Lio,
Linda Bartolini,
Elisabetta Rossi,
Patrizia Sacchetti,
Tiziana Panzavolta
Affiliations
Domenico Rizzo
Laboratory of Phytopathological Diagnostics and Molecular Biology, Tuscany Regional Plant Health Service, Via Ciliegiole 99, 51100 Pistoia, Italy
Matteo Bracalini
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy
Sara Campigli
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy
Anita Nencioni
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy
Francesco Porcelli
Department of Soil Sciences, of Plants and Food (Di.S.S.P.A), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Guido Marchi
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy
Daniele Da Lio
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Linda Bartolini
Laboratory of Phytopathological Diagnostics and Molecular Biology, Tuscany Regional Plant Health Service, Via Ciliegiole 99, 51100 Pistoia, Italy
Elisabetta Rossi
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Patrizia Sacchetti
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy
Tiziana Panzavolta
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy
The use of molecular tools to identify insect pests is a critical issue, especially when rapid and reliable tests are required. We proposed a protocol based on qPCR with SYBR Green technology to identify Philaenus italosignus (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae). The species is one of the three spittlebugs able to transmit Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 in Italy, together with Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris. Although less common than the other two species, its identification is key to verifying which role it can play when locally abundant. The proposed assay shows analytical specificity being inclusive with different populations of the target species and exclusive with non-target taxa, either taxonomically related or not. Moreover, it shows analytical sensibility, repeatability, and reproducibility, resulting in an excellent candidate for an official diagnostic method. The molecular test can discriminate P. italosignus from all non-target species, including the congeneric P. spumarius.
