Graminella

DeLong, 1936

Graminella is a of in the , comprising at least 30 described . The genus is best known through extensive research on Graminella nigrifrons (black-faced leafhopper), a significant agricultural pest and virus in North maize systems. Members of this genus feed on grasses and grass-family , with documented vectoring capacity for multiple economically important plant including spiroplasma, maize chlorotic dwarf virus, and maize fine streak virus.

Graminella fitchii by (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block. Used under a CC-BY license.

Graminella plana by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Graminella: /ɡra.mɪˈnɛl.lə/

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Habitat

Agricultural fields, particularly maize and corn fields; grassy areas with grasses including Vaseygrass (Paspalum urvillei), jungle rice (Echinochloa colona), Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), foxtail (Setaria spp.), panicgrass (Panicum spp.), and goosegrass (Eleusine indica). Laboratory colonies maintained on young maize or oats under controlled conditions.

Distribution

United States, with documented in Mississippi, Ohio, and wide distribution across the country. Collections confirmed from maize fields around the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center campus (40.773 N–81.909 W).

Seasonality

overwinter; peak in late July to early August in Mississippi. Strong observed from April through November. Two per year in Mississippi.

Diet

Feeds on maize and oats; has a wide range on many grass including grain such as maize and sorghum.

Host Associations

Zea mays - maize, corn
Avena sativa - oats; laboratory
Sorghum bicolor - sorghum
Sorghum halepense - Johnsongrass
Paspalum urvillei - Vaseygrass
Echinochloa colona - jungle rice
Digitaria sanguinalis - crabgrass
Setaria spp. - foxtail
Panicum spp. - panicgrass
Eleusine indica - goosegrass

Life Cycle

Overwinters as . Two per year in Mississippi. occurs in corn leaf and stems; hatch in 6–7 days. Undergoes .

Behavior

Strong from April to November. Attracted to UV light traps. Exhibits migratory . Uses and in mate-location behavior. Feeding involves piercing ; secretes non-soluble gel saliva and soluble watery saliva to promote plant feeding.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pest with significant economic impact on corn production through transmission of debilitating . spiroplasma, maize chlorotic dwarf virus, maize fine streak virus, and phytoplasmas.

Human Relevance

Major pest of maize and sorghum production in the United States. Economic losses result from direct feeding damage and particularly from virus transmission. Subject of extensive research for pest control and management strategies. transcriptome studies identify potential targets for functional studies to improve pest control.

More Details

Research Significance

Graminella nigrifrons has become a model organism for studying function and virus biology. The first salivary gland transcriptome identified 14,297 salivary gland-enriched and 195 predicted secretory , with functions including 'oxidoreduction', ' transport', and '-binding'. Two transcripts (GnP19 and GnE63, a putative calcium binding ) were significantly upregulated in maize-fed , indicating feeding-related importance.

Vector Competence

Documented of Spiroplasma (CSS), Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus (MCDV), maize fine streak virus, and phytoplasmas. Vectoring capacity makes this economically significant in North agriculture.