The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of The American Palm Cixiid, Haplaxius Crudus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) Article Swipe

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background </bold><italic>Haplaxius crudus </italic>(the American palm cixiid)<italic> </italic>is a major insect pest of various economically important palms. <italic>H. crudus</italic> persists in tropical and subtropical regions where it is known to transmit the lethal yellowing (LY) phytoplasma. It has been implicated as the putative vector of Lethal bronzing (LB), a destructive phytoplasma-induced palm disease affecting over 16 species of ornamental and agricultural palms. To date, no mitochondrial genomes for species in the family <italic>Cixiidae</italic> are sequenced. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences of <italic>H. crudus</italic> has proven useful for proper species diagnosis and population studies which could benefit management programs aimed at moving infective insects. These analyses describe the first mitochondrial genome from the American palm cixiid, <italic>Haplaxius crudus </italic>and an insect in the family <italic>Cixiidae</italic>. <bold>Results </bold>In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of <italic>H. crudus </italic>was assembled and characterized from PacBio Sequel II long sequencing reads using the University of Florida’s HiPerGator supercomputer. The circular mitogenome of <italic>H. crudus</italic> is 15,845 bp long and encodes 37 mitochondrial genes (including 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs) in addition to a putative non-coding internal control region. The nucleotide composition of <italic>H. crudus</italic> is asymmetric with a bias toward A and T (44.8 %A, 13.4 %C, 8.5 %G and 33.3 %T). Protein-coding genes (PCGs) possess the standard invertebrate mitochondrial start codons with few exceptions while the gene content and order of the <italic>H. crudus</italic> mitogenome is identical to most completely sequenced insect mitochondrial genomes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that <italic>H. crudus</italic> is closely related to the planthopper in the family Delphacidae: <italic>N. lugens, </italic>which is the established sister group to Cixiidae. <bold>Conclusions </bold>Our studies have elucidated the first reference mitochondrial genome of <italic>Haplaxius crudus</italic>, providing structural analysis of the circular genome and encoded gene regions. The present results provide future opportunities to assess the diversity and origin of <italic>H. crudus</italic>. This study demonstrates the significance of understanding the structure and function of the mitochondrial genome to inform effective diagnostic and management strategies for insect pests.