Infection by Wolbachia bacteria and its influence on the reproduction of the stored-product psocid, Liposcelis tricolor.
Wolbachia are maternally inherited intracellular bacteria that infect a wide range of arthropods and nematodes and are associated with various reproductive abnormalities in their hosts. The infection by Wolbachia of the psocid, Liposcelis tricolor (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), was investigated using long PCR amplification of the wsp gene that codes for a Wolbachia surface protein. The results showed that L. tricolor was positive for Wolbachia . Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Wolbachia found in L. tricolor was related to the B-group. Wolbachia infection in L. tricolor could be removed through antibiotic treatment. The results of crosses including female(W+) x male(W+), female(W-) x male(W+), female(W+) x male(W-), and female(W-) x male(W-), suggested that the removal of Wolbachia resulted in lower egg production by L. tricolor . The mean embryonic mortality of offspring produced by L. tricolor without Wolbachia was significantly higher than that of control.
Dong
Peng
P
Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, PR China. dongpeng77@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Jin-Jun
JJ
Zhao
Zhi-Mo
ZM
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010063:Ovum; D010802:Phylogeny; D012098:Reproduction; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000502:physiology*