DNA-barcoding and assessment of the genetic diversity of the Xylella fastidiosa vectors in the Balearic Islands.

Since the first detection of Xylella fastidiosa (XF) in Majorca (Spain) five years ago, this phytopathogenic bacterium has been found in the rest of the Balearic Islands except Formentera. In the Balearic archipelago, the expansion of the XF infection occurs through the feeding activity of the spittlebugs Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris (Aphrophoridae). To date, these are the only confirmed XF vectors in the Balearic Islands. In 2017 we started a project granted by EFSA aiming at, among other objectives, DNA barcoding putative vectors in the Balearics through the analysis of the standardized 5’ end of the mitochondrial COI gene of the insects. Moreover, a cytB mtDNA fragment was also sequenced in order to expand the genetic dataset and to conduct phylogenetic inferences. We take advantage of the P. spumarius and N. campestris DNA sequences available at GenBank to investigate the molecular systematics of the Balearic vectors and the patterns of haplotype divergence among vector populations in Europe.