Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (2016) 119, 145-157

Jian-Xin Sun, Yan Guo, Xu Zhang, Wen-Chao Zhu, Ya-Ting Chen and Xiao-Yue Hong (2016)
Effects of host interaction with Wolbachia on cytoplasmic incompatibility in the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 119 (1), 145-157
Abstract: The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis infects a wide range of arthropods and induces a variety of reproductive anomalies, including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Three populations of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, were investigated in the present study. Based on gene sequencing, they had different host genetic backgrounds but were infected with the same Wolbachia strain. We also examined the CI level relative to host background, male age, Wolbachia density, and Ankyrin (ANK) gene expression in T. urticae. The results of the present study suggest that: (1) CI differences between populations appear to be a result of host genetic background; (2) male age is not a factor determining intensity of CI; (3) Wolbachia density in males may serve as threshold factor necessary for the CI to occur in T. urticae, after which other factors become important in determining the strength of CI; and (4) hosts may modulate CI intensity through modulation of ANK gene expression in males. Our results describe a new type of interaction between Wolbachia and its hosts, and the effect of the interactions on CI. Further investigations on the functions of Wolbachia ankyrin gene products and their host targets, particularly with respect to host reproductive manipulation, are also imperative.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Xiao-Yue Hong

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae