Isoenzyme Analysis of the Genus Dalbulus (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

Abstract

Ten enzymes from Dalbulus leafhoppers were studied using electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. These enzyme systems were acid phosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase, carboxyesterase, hexokinase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase, superoxide dismutase, malate dehydrogenase, and malic enzyme. The last three showed no interspecific variation and were not considered in the analyses. The Dalbulus spp. studied were D. quinquenotatus DeLong and Nault, D. maidis (DeLong and Wolcott), D. gelbus DeLong, D. tripsacoides DeLong and Nault, D. charlesi Triplehorn and Nault, D. guzmani DeLong and Nault, D. longulus DeLong, D. guevarai DeLong, and D. elimatus (Ball). Baldulus tripsaci Kramer and Whitcomb and Macrosteles fascifrons Stål also were analyzed and used for outgroup comparison. Of the 108 electromorphs identified, 60 showed interspecific variation in more than one species, and 29 were polymorphic within at least one species. Results were analyzed both cladistically and phenetically. Generated cladograms supported most relationships that were hypothesized using morphological data. Carboxyesterase data were used to compare populations of D. maidis. These data seem to support the hypothesis that D. maidis migrates within Mexico.