title: Microbial diversity in the larval  gut of field and laboratory populations of the sugarcane weevil Sphenophorus levis  (Coleoptera, Curculionidae).
abstract: The  sugarcane weevil, Sphenophorus levis, is a wide-spread sugarcane pest in  Brazil. Sphenophorus levis may depend on microorganisms that inhabit its  intestinal tract. We examined the diversity of the gut microbiota of S.  levis, which was characterized using culture-dependent and  culture-independent methods. Analysis of 16S rRNA amplified directly from the  gut community revealed the presence of 14 genera, one group from the Candidatus category, one uncultured group assigned to the family Flavobacteriaceae, and  one uncultured group assigned to the family Enterobacteriaceae; all of them are  members of the Alpha-Proteobacteria, Beta-Proteobacteria, Gamma-Proteobacteria,  Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes phyla. Microorganisms isolated through  culture-dependent methods were classified according to morphological parameters  and by 16S rRNA gene sequences. In addition to bacteria, four filamentous fungi  were isolated. A higher bacterial diversity was observed in field populations  of larvae than in laboratory populations, according to the Shannon index (Field  H' = 3.36; Laboratory H' = 3.26). Five genera of bacteria and two filamentous  fungi were found to have cellulolytic activity. This is the first report of S.  levis gut microbiota; it may contribute to development of strategies for  controlling this sugarcane pest.
authors: Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brasil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Rinke
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Costa
authors: F P P
authors: FP
authors: Fonseca
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Almeida
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Delalibera Júnior
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Henrique-Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D048889:Weevils / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S