A new isolate of Nosema sp. (Microsporidia, Nosematidae) from Phyllobrotica armata Baly (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) from China.

We studied the spore morphology and molecular systematics of a novel microsporidian isolate from Phyllobrotica armata Baly collected in China. The spores were long-oval and measured 4.7 × 2.6 μm on fresh smears. Ultrastructure of the spores was characteristic for the genus Nosema: 13-14 polar filament coils, posterior vacuole, and a diplokaryon. The complete rRNA gene sequence of the isolate was 4308 bp long. The organization of the rRNA gene was 5'-LSU rRNA-ITS-SSU rRNA-IGS-5S-3', which corresponds to that of the Nosema species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the rRNA gene sequence indicated that this isolate, designated as Nosema sp. PA, is closely related to Nosema bombycis and is correctly assigned to the "true"Nosema group. Copyright Â