Genomic characterisation and dissection of the onset of resistance to acetyl CoA carboxylase-inhibiting herbicides in a large collection of Digitaria insularis from Brazil.

An in-depth genotypic characterisation of a diverse collection of Digitaria insularis was undertaken to explore the neutral genetic variation across the natural expansion range of this weed species in Brazil. With the exception of Minas Gerais, populations from all other states showed high estimates of expected heterozygosity (HE > 0.60) and genetic diversity. There was a lack of population structure based on geographic origin and a low population differentiation between populations across the landscape as evidenced by average Fst value of 0.02. On combining haloxyfop [acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicide] efficacy data with neutral genetic variation, we found evidence of presence of two scenarios of resistance evolution in this weed species. Whilst populations originating from north-eastern region demonstrated an active role of gene flow, populations from the mid-western region displayed multiple, independent resistance evolution as the major evolutionary mechanism. A target-site mutation (Trp2027Cys) in the ACCase gene, observed in less than 1% of resistant populations, could not explain the reduced sensitivity of 15% of the populations to haloxyfop. The genetic architecture of resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides was dissected using a genome wide association study (GWAS) approach. GWAS revealed association of three SNPs with reduced sensitivity to haloxyfop and clethodim. In silico analysis of these SNPs revealed important non-target site genes belonging to families involved in herbicide detoxification, including UDPGT91C1 and GT2, and genes involved in vacuolar sequestration-based degradation pathway. Exploration of five genomic prediction models revealed that the highest prediction power (≥0.80) was achieved with the models Bayes A and RKHS, incorporating SNPs with additive effects and epistatic interactions, respectively.

Morphology of interommatidial sensilla of Discocephalini (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Discocephalinae).

Interommatidial sensilla have been explored for their taxonomic value and other aspects in Diptera and Lepidoptera. In Heteroptera, Eurystethus is the only genus where these structures were examined in delimiting subgenera and species. This study investigates the presence, distribution, and morphology of interommatidial sensilla in Discocephalinae species and discusses the sensilla's value for cladistic and taxonomic appraisals. Twenty species of 18 genera were analyzed: 16 Discocephalini genera, one genus in Ochlerini, and one genus in Edessinae. Species' heads were observed from photographs taken with light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From these images, we identified eleven types of sensilla, classified into chaetica, trichoidea and coeloconica. In LM, only sensilla chaetica with a length of 40-100 µm were visible, present in six species. Under the SEM at least one type of sensillum was visible in 19 of the 20 species analyzed. No difference between the various kinds of sensilla were apparent between males and females or adults and nymphs of a given species. Both subgenera of Eurysthetus have the same type of sensillum (chaeticum type I), which suggests this is not a delimiting feature. We conclude that sensilla chaetica can be a valuable character to delimit groups of genera within Discocephalini.

Description of a new group of species of Edessa Fabricius, 1803 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Edessinae) with translucent spot on hemelytra.

Several species of Edessinae, especially Edessa, were described from Central America in classic and recent works; but fauna from this region still has many groups of species with remarkable characteristics to be described. One of these groups is herein described to include species with part of the corium weakly pigmented and translucent. The group E. stalii is composed by Edessa stalii and three new species: E. translucida sp. n., E. bryoviridis sp. n. and E. brunneofasciata sp. n. Diagnoses, measurements, photographs, and a map of distribution are presented.