Propylene Glycol and Non-Destructive DNA Extractions Enable Preservation and Isolation of Insect and Hosted Bacterial DNA

Francesco Martoni, Elisse Nogarotto, Alexander M. Piper, Rachel Mann, Isabel Valenzuela, Lixin Eow, Lea Rako, Brendan C. Rodoni and Mark J. Blacket
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Francesco Martoni: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Elisse Nogarotto: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Alexander M. Piper: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Rachel Mann: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Isabel Valenzuela: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Lixin Eow: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Lea Rako: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Brendan C. Rodoni: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Mark J. Blacket: AgriBio Centre for AgriBiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Plant bio-protection and biosecurity programs worldwide use trap-based surveillance for the early detection of agricultural pests and pathogens to contain their incursions and spread. This task is reliant on effective preservation in insect traps, which is required to maintain specimen quality for extended periods under variable environmental conditions. Furthermore, with traditional morphological examinations now increasingly paired with modern molecular diagnostic techniques, insect traps are required to preserve both the specimens’ morphology and the DNA of insects and vectored bacterial pathogens. Here, we used psyllids (Hemiptera) and their hosted bacteria as a model to test the preservative ability of propylene glycol (PG): a non-flammable, easily transportable preservative agent that could be used in pitfall, suction or malaise traps. We tested preservation using various PG concentrations, at different temperatures and for multiple time periods, paired with non-destructive DNA extraction methods, which allow isolation of both insect and arbobacterial DNA while retaining a morphological voucher of the insect host specimens. PG concentrations between 40% and 100% performed best for both insect and bacterial DNA preservation up to 28 days. Ultimately, given the viscous nature of PG at high concentrations, we recommend using it at a concentration between 40% and 60% to enable insects to sink into the solution, thus enhancing DNA preservation.

Keywords: psyllids; non-destructive DNA extraction; Candidatus Liberibacter; preservative agents; biosecurity; insect traps (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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