Diversity and localization of bacterial symbionts in three whitefly species (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from the east coast of the Adriatic Sea

• Published in: Bulletin of entomological research Vol. 103; no. 1; pp. 48 - 59
• Main Authors: Škaljac, M., Žanić, K., Hrnčić, S., Radonjić, S., Perović, T., Ghanim, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.02.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biological and medical sciences; Croatia; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic diversity; Hemiptera - genetics; Hemiptera - microbiology; Hemiptera - physiology; Herbivores; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Insects; Montenegro; Pest control; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys; Research Paper; Species Specificity; Symbiosis; East Asia; Adriatic Sea; Montenegro; Croatia; Europe; Trialeurodes vaporariorum; secondary symbionts; Bemisia tabaci; Siphoninus phillyreae; Insecta; Symbiont; Coastal zone; Species diversity; Phytophagous; Pest; Homoptera; Geographic distribution; Arthropoda; Prokaryote; Bacteria; Aleyrodidae; Microorganism; Invertebrata; Localization
• ISSN: 0007-4853; 1475-2670; 1475-2670
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007485312000399

Several whitefly species (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are cosmopolitan phloem-feeders that cause serious damage in numerous agricultural crops. All whitefly species harbor a primary bacterial symbiont and a diverse array of secondary symbionts which may influence several aspects of the insect's biology. We surveyed infections by secondary symbionts in Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) and Siphoninus phillyreae (Haliday) from areas in the east cost of the Adriatic Sea. Both the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) B. tabaci genetic groups were detected in Montenegro, whereas only the MED was confirmed in Croatia. Trialeurodes vaporariorum and S. phillyreae were found in all areas surveyed. MEAM1 and MED exhibited similarity to previously reported infections, while populations of T. vaporariorum from Montenegro harbored Rickettsia, Wolbachia and Cardinium in addition to previously reported Hamiltonella and Arsenopnohus. Siphoninus phillyreae harbored Hamiltonella, Wolbachia, Cardinium and Arsenophonus, with the latter appearing in two alleles. Multiple infections of all symbionts were common in the three insect species tested, with some reaching near fixation. Florescent in situ hybridization showed new localization patterns for Hamiltonella in S. phillyreae, and the morphology of the bacteriosome differed from that observed in other whitefly species. Our results show new infections with bacterial symbionts in the whitefly species studied. Infections with the same symbionts in reproductively isolated whitefly species confirm complex relationships between whiteflies and bacterial symbionts, and suggest possible horizontal transfer of some of these bacteria.