Effects of antibiotics on fitness of the B biotype and a non-B biotype of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), harbors primary and secondary endosymbionts. Previous research showed that the invasive B biotype and an indigenous non‐B biotype (named non‐B ZHJ‐1 population) of B. tabaci from Zhejiang, China, harbored different endosymbionts. To investigate the function of these endosymbionts in the two biotypes of B. tabaci, we fed adult whiteflies with three antibiotics, tetracycline, ampicillin trihydrate, and rifampicin, and evaluated the fitness of their offspring on cotton plants. These three antibiotics did not remove the primary endosymbiont Portiera aleyrodidarum but were capable of eliminating the secondary endosymbionts. In the B biotype, treatments of adults with tetracycline or ampicillin trihydrate accelerated development and increased the survival of their offspring, while treatment of adults with rifampicin significantly retarded the development of their offspring but did not affect their survival. In the non‐B ZHJ‐1 population, treatments of adults with tetracycline or ampicillin trihydrate also accelerated the development of their offspring but did not significantly affect their survival, while treatment of adults with rifampicin significantly retarded development and reduced the survival of their offspring. These results suggest that removal of some secondary endosymbionts and/or reduction of the primary endosymbiont from B. tabaci may produce both favorable and unfavorable effects on the fitness of the host insects.     

重大外来害虫B型烟粉虱的入侵行为和生态机制

烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)复合种是热带、亚热带及相邻温带地区的主要害虫之一。其中的B型烟粉虱在近20年来随观赏植物的运输在世界范围内广泛传播扩散,并在许多入侵地迅速取代本地的土著烟粉虱,通过直接取食植物汁液、传播植物双生病毒等方式对当地的农业生产造成极大危害。在B型烟粉虱入侵生物学研究方面,作者课题组研究发现,至少有两个主要机制导致或促进了B型烟粉虱的广泛入侵及其所伴随的双生病毒流行:(1)入侵烟粉虱与土著烟粉虱之间的"非对称交配互作";(2)入侵烟粉虱与所传双生病毒之间的间接互惠共生关系。这些研究结果从一定程度上揭示了B型烟粉虱成功入侵的行为和生态机制,并为进一步探讨烟粉虱的入侵机制提供了思路。     

Temporal changes of symbiont density and host fitness after rifampicin treatment in a whitefly of the Bemisia tabaci species complex

Microbial symbionts are essential or important partners to phloem‐feeding insects. Antibiotics have been used to selectively eliminate symbionts from their host insects and establish host lines with or without certain symbionts for investigating functions of the symbionts. In this study, using the antibiotic rifampicin we attempted to selectively eliminate certain symbionts from a population of the Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 whitefly of the Bemisia tabaci species complex, which harbors the primary symbiont “Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum” and two secondary symbionts “Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa” and Rickettsia. Neither the primary nor the secondary symbionts were completely depleted in the adults (F0) that fed for 48 h on a diet treated with rifampicin at concentrations of 1–100 μg/mL. However, both the primary and secondary symbionts were nearly completely depleted in the offspring (F1) of the rifampicin‐treated adults. Although the F1 adults produced some eggs (F2), most of the eggs failed to hatch and none of them reached the second instar, and consequently the rifampicin‐treated whitefly colony vanished at the F2 generation. Interestingly, quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays showed that in the rifampicin‐treated whiteflies, the density of the primary symbiont was reduced at an obviously slower pace than the secondary symbionts. Mating experiments between rifampicin‐treated and untreated adults demonstrated that the negative effects of rifampicin on host fitness were expressed when the females were treated by the antibiotic, and whether males were treated or not by the antibiotic had little contribution to the negative effects. These observations indicate that with this whitefly population it is not feasible to selectively eliminate the secondary symbionts using rifampicin without affecting the primary symbiont and establish host lines for experimental studies. However, the extinction of the whitefly colony at the second generation after rifampicin treatment indicates the potential of the antibiotic as a control agent of the whitefly pest.     

Inheritance of pyriproxyfen resistance in the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Q biotype)

The inheritance of resistance to pyriproxyfen, an insect growth regulator (a juvenoid, with ovicidal and larvicidal activities), was studied in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Two parental strains, both belonging to Q biotype, were assayed with pyriproxyfen; a susceptible strain (ALM-1) originating from Spain and a pyriproxyfen-resistant one (Pyri-R) from Israel. The resistance ratio between the two parental strains was approximately 7,000-fold. Concentration-mortality lines for F(1) heterozygous females from reciprocal crosses (SS female symbol X R male symbol and RR female symbol X S male symbol ) were derived by statistical modelling and proved intermediate to those of the parents. The pooled degree of dominance from both reciprocal crosses was +0.26, indicating that resistance was incompletely or partially dominant. Mortality curves for F(2) males produced by virgin F(1) heterozygous females displayed a broad plateau at 50% mortality, indicating that resistance to pyriproxyfen in B. tabaci is conferred primarily by a mutant allele at a single locus. The role of arrhenotoky in influencing the mode of inheritance of resistance, and its selection in field populations, is discussed.     

B型烟粉虱在甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒上的刺吸取食行为

利用刺吸电波技术（EPG）记录了B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci在甘蓝Brassica oleracea L. var. caqitata、西葫芦Cucurbita pepo L.和辣椒Capsicum annuum L.上的刺吸取食波形。结果表明,3种寄主植物的适合度为甘蓝>西葫芦>辣椒。在所观察的25头烟粉虱中,到达甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒韧皮部的个体数分别为24、19和15,其中持续吸食头数为22、10和1。在第一阶段（从刺吸开始到第一个E(pd)1出现）,烟粉虱在甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒3种植物上非刺探时间所占比例分别为9.59%、23.55%和36.97%,三者差异显著; 在第二阶段（从第一个E(pd)1出现到第一次韧皮部持续吸食）,烟粉虱在甘蓝和西葫芦上所考察的4个指标无显著差异; 在第三阶段（从第一次韧皮部持续吸食至记录结束）,烟粉虱在甘蓝上第一次韧皮部持续吸食后的刺探次数（4.73）显著低于在西葫芦上的刺探次数（13.40）。在自由状态下,烟粉虱60 min内在甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒上留存粉虱的百分比分别为100％、88％和28％,这进一步验证了上述依据EPG记录得到的结果。     

Proteomic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves infested by tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B biotype

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B biotype, a destructive pest causing heavy damage to crop production, has become an important economic pest of agriculture worldwide. Here, the proteome change of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves infested by B. tabaci was studied with two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Twenty proteins showed a significant change in expression after B. tabaci infestation, including ten up-regulated and ten down-regulated. Using the Gene Ontology annotation, all except one were classified into one of four major groups based on their molecular function and biological process. Six of the proteins were involved in protein folding and regulation (HSP90.7, HSP90.3, HSP90.2, ERD1, FKB70, and ROC1), five in redox regulation (PRX2B, GPX6, MDAR3, MDARP, and Y4967), five in primary metabolism (TBA6, SPP2, PDX11, RR5, and RuBisCO activase (RCA)), and three in secondary metabolism (PR5, MYRO, and NMT2). All proteins belonging to the same group shared the same direction of change; the only exception was RCA. The proteins involved in protein folding and regulation were down-regulated indicating the inhibition of a plant defense response. Those involved in redox regulation were up-regulated, which may lead to an increase in tolerance as a result of a reduction in oxidation. Proteins involved in primary metabolism (except RCA) were inhibited while those involved in secondary metabolism were induced suggesting reallocation of resources with the host plant. These proteins will form the basis for future studies aimed at further understanding the mechanism underlying the host-adaptation capacity of B. tabaci.     

Adult Bemisia tabaci biotype B can induce silverleafing in squash

Bemisia tabaci biotype B is one of three genetic groups able to induce silverleafing in squash. Several earlier studies had observed that this physiological change was induced only through the feeding of juvenile whiteflies. This study uses adult males only to show that after 11 days the adult males were able to begin to induce silverleafing. Further, the response was density-dependent with 120 adults inducing the first signs of silverleafing in 11 days, 90 adults in 13 days and 60 adults in 15 days.     

B型烟粉虱与浙江非B型烟粉虱的竞争

为了了解近年来入侵中国的B型烟粉虱(Bemisiatabaci)取代本地非B型烟粉虱的潜能,在室内将一个B型与一个浙江非B型烟粉虱种群混合饲养在不同寄主植物上,跟踪观察混合种群中两个生物型个体数量相对比例的变化。结果表明,当两种生物型在棉花(Gossypiumhirsutum)上以相同初始数量共存竞争时,经过6代,非B型完全被B型替代;而在西葫芦(Cucurbitapepo)上以相同初始数量共存竞争时,只经过2代,非B型即完全被B型替代。在棉花上,即使以非B型占87%、B型占13%开始共存竞争,经过225d后,非B型也完全被B型替代。这说明B型烟粉虱具有在短期内竞争取代浙江非B型烟粉虱的能力。经分析,B型除了寄主范围比非B型的宽这一点对其竞争有利外,较强的内在竞争潜能也是其能成功入侵并替代本地非B型烟粉虱的一个重要原因。     

Transovarial transmission of Rickettsia spp. and organ-specific infection of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a cosmopolitan insect pest that harbors Portiera aleyrodidarum, the primary obligatory symbiotic bacterium, and several facultative secondary symbionts. Secondary symbionts in B. tabaci are generally associated with the bacteriome, ensuring their vertical transmission; however, Rickettsia is an exception and occupies most of the body cavity, except the bacteriome. The mode of Rickettsia transfer between generations and its subcellular localization in insect organs have not been investigated. Using electron and fluorescence microscopy, we show that Rickettsia infects the digestive, salivary, and reproductive organs of the insect; however, it was not observed in the bacteriome. Rickettsia invades the oocytes during early developmental stages and resides in follicular cells and cytoplasm; it is mostly excluded when the egg matures; however, some bacterial cells remain in the egg, ensuring their transfer to subsequent generations. Rickettsia was localized to testicles and the spermatheca, suggesting a horizontal transfer between males and females during mating. The bacterium was further observed at large amounts in midgut cells, concentrating in vacuole-like structures, and was located in the hemolymph, specifically at exceptionally large amounts around bacteriocytes and in fat bodies. Organs further infected by Rickettsia included the primary salivary glands and stylets, sites of possible secretion of the bacterium outside the whitefly body. The close association between Rickettsia and the B. tabaci digestive system might be important for digestive purposes. The vertical transmission of Rickettsia to subsequent generations occurs via the oocyte and not, like other secondary symbionts, the bacteriome.     

Q型烟粉虱在中国的入侵生态过程及机制

外来种的入侵生态过程及机制是入侵生物学重要的研究内容, 相关领域的案例分析对入侵生物学学科构建具有重要的理论意义, 对于入侵生物的防控具有重要的实践价值。但迄今中国对外来种的入侵生态过程及机制案例分析较少。而近10年来中国学者对重大入侵昆虫Q型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci的研究为这方面的分析提供了可能。基于上述因素, 本文以Q型烟粉虱为例, 追溯了Q型烟粉虱成功入侵中国的生态过程, 总结了该昆虫成功入侵的生态过程特征, 从种群遗传结构、 生态因子及人类活动等方面解析了该虫成功入侵的机制, 展望了Q型烟粉虱入侵生物学未来的研究方向。我们认为, Q型在中国的入侵生态过程具有传入隐蔽、 扩散快速、 危害严重等特点; Q型烟粉虱成功入侵中国涉及Q型烟粉虱种群遗传学基础、 生态因子及人类活动等多种因素, 其中杀虫剂在中国的大量使用对Q型取代B型的驱动作用可能是Q型烟粉虱在中国成功入侵的重要因素。     

田间系统调查表明山东省农区烟粉虱优势种为Q隐种

【目的】为了揭示山东省农区烟粉虱 Bemisia tabaci 隐种的分布情况,对2013年7-8月份期间在该省不同农区采集的烟粉虱隐种组成进行了系统调查研究。【方法】在山东省15市22个地点作物上采集了69份烟粉虱样品,利用mtCOI基因PCR-RFLP方法进行了分子鉴定,并分析了烟粉虱Q隐种在不同寄主作物及地理区域内的分布状况。【结果】22个采集地点中,17个地点的采集样品全部为烟粉虱Q隐种;其他5个地点（潍坊、菏泽、泰安、淄博和临沂）的烟粉虱Q隐种所占比例均大于90%,B隐种比例较低（<10%）。烟粉虱Q隐种比例在5种寄主（茄子、辣椒、番茄、黄瓜和棉花）种群间以及在山东省东部丘陵、中部山地和西部平原地区间均没有显著差异。【结论】2013年田间调查发现烟粉虱Q隐种在山东各地已广泛取代B隐种成为该地区优势种群。     

烟粉虱B型和Q型群体遗传结构的RAPD分析

近20年来,烟粉虱B型传入世界各地并暴发成灾,成为一种重要的农业入侵害虫; 烟粉虱Q型则是近几年引起人们高度重视的一种新的入侵生物型,目前已传入许多国家并造成一定危害。本文利用RAPD分子标记对烟粉虱B型和Q型不同地理种群的遗传结构进行了分析。结果表明：（1）引物H16对烟粉虱B型不同种群扩增的特异带,能有效区分烟粉虱B型和Q型、浙江非B/Q型种群;（2）烟粉虱Q型种群各项遗传多样性指数均比烟粉虱B型的要高;（3）我国烟粉虱Q型来自伊比利亚半岛的可能性比来自中东地区的可能性要大。另外,聚类分析结果提示,RAPD分子标记能有效地区分烟粉虱不同生物型,但可能不适用于生物型之间亲缘关系分析。     

Sequencing and comparison of the Rickettsia genomes from the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Middle East Asia Minor I

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, harbors the primary symbiont ‘Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum’ and a variety of secondary symbionts. Among these secondary symbionts, Rickettsia is the only one that can be detected both inside and outside the bacteriomes. Infection with Rickettsia has been reported to influence several aspects of the whitefly biology, such as fitness, sex ratio, virus transmission and resistance to pesticides. However, mechanisms underlying these differences remain unclear, largely due to the lack of genomic information of Rickettsia. In this study, we sequenced the genome of two Rickettsia strains isolated from the Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) species of the B. tabaci complex in China and Israel. Both Rickettsia genomes were of high coding density and AT‐rich, containing more than 1000 coding sequences, much larger than that of the coexisted primary symbiont, Portiera. Moreover, the two Rickettsia strains isolated from China and Israel shared most of the genes with 100% identity and only nine genes showed sequence differences. The phylogenetic analysis using orthologs shared in the genus, inferred the proximity of Rickettsia in MEAM1 and Rickettsia bellii. Functional analysis revealed that Rickettsia was unable to synthesize amino acids required for complementing the whitefly nutrition. Besides, a type IV secretion system and a number of virulence‐related genes were detected in the Rickettsia genome. The presence of virulence‐related genes might benefit the symbiotic life of the bacteria, and hint on potential effects of Rickettsia on whiteflies. The genome sequences of Rickettsia provided a basis for further understanding the function of Rickettsia in whiteflies.     

烟粉虱内共生菌 Rickettsia 在植物体内的分布及转移效率初探

【目的】检测 Q 型烟粉虱 Bemisia tabaci （Gennadius）体内 Rickettsia 的感染情况,研究分析Rickettsia 共生菌经烟粉虱传入豇豆植物后的分布、转移效率等。【方法】以 Q 型烟粉虱为实验材料,利用常规 PCR 及荧光原位杂交技术(FISH),检测了烟粉虱体内 Rickettsia 的感染率,以及 Rickettsia 传入豇豆植物体内后的存留情况。【结果】 Q 型烟粉虱可以通过取食将 Rickettsia 传至豇豆植株内;接虫数量与 Rickettsia传入效率及其在取食部位相邻的下部叶片中检测到的起始时间呈负相关;Rickettsia 经烟粉虱取食传入豇豆叶片后,集中分布在叶片的韧皮部筛管中;基于16S rRNA 的系统发育分析结果表明,Q 型烟粉虱体内的Rickettsia 与经取食传入豇豆叶片的 Rickettsia 高度同源。【结论】 Rickettsia 可以通过烟粉虱的取食传入植物体内,并且可以在相邻叶片之间转移传播,Rickettsia 在由寄主昆虫向植株传播过程中高度保守。     

Susceptibility of the tobacco whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype Q to entomopathogenic fungi

Recently, the Q biotype of tobacco whitefly has been recognized as the most hazardous strain of Bemisia tabaci worldwide because of increased resistance to some insecticide groups requiring alternative strategies for its control. We studied the susceptibility of this biotype of B. tabaci to 21 isolates of Beauveria bassiana, three isolates of Isaria fumosorosea, one isolate of I. cateni, three isolates of Lecanicillium lecanii, one isolate of L. attenuatum, and one isolate of Aschersonia aleyrodis. These isolates were evaluated on pruned eggplant seedlings, at a concentration of 10⁸ conidia/mL (deposited at 6000±586 conidia mm^?2). The mortality based on mycosis varied from 18 to 97% after 6 days. Isaria fumosorosea isolate Pf04, B. bassiana isolates Bb06, Bb12, and L. lecanii L14 were found the most effective. Furthermore, five isolates were chosen for concentration–mortality response assays and compared to B. bassiana GHA as a standard. The numbers of nymphs infected by fungi were correlated with the spore concentration. L. lecanii L14 and I. fumosorosea Pf04 had the shortest LT₅₀ at 3.5 and 3.3 days at 6000±586 conidia mm^?2. Mortality declined and LT₅₀ values were longer as the concentration of conidia was reduced. The LD₅₀ values were calculated as 87, 147, 191, 263, and 269 conidia mm^?2 for isolates L14, GHA, AS1260, Bb13, and Pf04, respectively. These results indicated that the Q biotype of sweetpotato whitefly was susceptible to the five isolates of entomopathogenic fungi and these isolates have potential to be developed as microbial pesticides for whitefly control.     

Insecticide resistance and control failure likelihood of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (MEAM1; B biotype): a Neotropical scenario

Insecticide resistance is a standing concern for arthropod pest species, which may result in insecticide control failure. Nonetheless, while insecticide resistance has remained a focus of attention for decades, the incurring risk of insecticide control failure has been neglected. The recognition of both problems is paramount for arthropod pest management and particularly so when invasive species notoriously difficult to control and exhibiting frequent cases of insecticide resistance are considered. Such is the case of the putative whitefly species Middle East‐Asia Minor I (MEAM1) (Bemisia tabaci B‐biotype), for which little information is available in the Neotropics. Thus, the likely occurrence and levels of resistance to seven insecticides were surveyed among Brazilian populations of this species. The likelihood of control failure to the five insecticides registered for this species was also determined. Resistance was detected to all insecticides assessed reaching instances of high (i.e. >100×) to very high levels (>1000×) in all of them. Overall efficacy was particularly low (<60%) and the control failure likelihood was high (>25%) and frequent (70%) for the bioinsecticide azadirachtin, followed by spiromesifen and lambda‐cyhalothrin. In contrast, the likelihood of control failure was low for diafenthiuron, and mainly imidacloprid. As cartap and chlorantraniliprole are not used against whiteflies, but are frequently applied on the same host plants, inadvertent selection probably took place leading to high levels of resistance, particularly for the latter. The resistance levels of cartap and chlorantraniliprole correlated with imidacloprid resistance (r > 0.65, P < 0.001), suggesting that the latter use may have somewhat favoured inadvertent selection for resistance to both compounds not used against the whitefly. A further concern is that chlorantraniliprole use in the reported scenario may allow cross selection to cyantraniliprole, a related diamide with recent registration against whiteflies demanding attention in designing resistance management programmes.     

B型与浙江非B型烟粉虱药剂敏感性的比较

比较了新入侵我国的B型烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci(Gennadius)与非B型烟粉虱ZHJ-1种群对5%吡虫啉乳油和5%吡丙醚乳油2种杀虫剂的敏感性。ZHJ-1种群卵、若虫和成虫对这2种药剂的敏感性均比B型的明显或显著要高。吡丙醚具有高杀卵活性,在有效成分为0.25mg/L时,2个烟粉虱种群卵的死亡率高于90%。药剂敏感性的差异可能是B型竞争取代本地非B型烟粉虱的一个重要原因。     

Occurrence of three genotypic clusters of Bemisia tabaci and the rapid spread of the B biotype in south India

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), is generally considered to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, although little information has so far been collected on the molecular diversity of populations present in this region. The genetic diversity of B. tabaci populations from Karnataka State, south India was analysed using the random amplified polymorphic DNA‐polymerase chain reaction (RAPD‐PCR) technique and partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene sequences (689 bases) of 22 selected samples. A total of 108 whitefly samples analysed by RAPD‐PCR produced 89 polymorphic bands, and cluster analyses grouped them according to their geographic origin into ‘north’ and ‘south’ Karnataka. Phylogenetic analysis of mtCOI gene sequences with reference B. tabaci sequences from other Asian countries divided them into three genotypic clusters. Each cluster was supported with high bootstrap values (82–100%) and the individuals belonging to each cluster shared high nucleotide identities (up to 100%). This indicated at least three distinct genotypes, apparently indigenous to India, which are also present in China, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Thailand. These coexist with the B biotype, which was first reported in India in 1999, and has since spread rapidly to other states in south India. The B biotype was more common than the indigenous B. tabaci, in locations where it had been present for more than 2 years. This is reminiscent of the situation in the Americas during the early 1990s, where the B biotype replaced existing biotypes and caused unprecedented losses to agriculture.