Identification of HoCV-1 virus in Texas glassy winged sharpshooter populations

The glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis is an invasive pest and important vector of Xylella fastidiosa, a xylem-limiting bacteria that causes Pierce’s Disease in grapes as well as other agricultural diseases. The primary method of managing the spread of Xylella is controlling its insect vector populations. Methods such as chemical control with the use of insecticides are not target specific and lead to problems such as residue contamination, injury to non-target organisms, and insecticide resistance. Identifying agents that can impact H. vitripennis is the goal of a biological control strategy. In this study, our focus is to identify HoCV-1 in populations of H. vitripennis collected in Texas. DNA sequencing of the viral capsid protein gene was used to determine genetic variability between Florida and Texas strains of HoCV-1. The genetic variability may be related to increased virulence of the Texas strain of HoCV-1.