scholarly journals Phenotypic Effect of “Candidatus Rickettsiella viridis,” a Facultative Symbiont of the Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), and Its Interaction with a Coexisting Symbiont

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 525-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Tsuchida ◽  
Ryuichi Koga ◽  
Akiko Fujiwara ◽  
Takema Fukatsu
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Body Color ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Phenotypic Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Specific Localization ◽  
European Populations

ABSTRACTA gammaproteobacterial facultative symbiont of the genusRickettsiellawas recently identified in the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum. Infection with this symbiont altered the color of the aphid body from red to green, potentially affecting the host's ecological characteristics, such as attractiveness to different natural enemies. In European populations ofA. pisum, the majority ofRickettsiella-infected aphids also harbor another facultative symbiont, of the genusHamiltonella. We investigated thisRickettsiellasymbiont for its interactions with the coinfectingHamiltonellasymbiont, its phenotypic effects onA. pisumwith and withoutHamiltonellacoinfection, and its infection prevalence inA. pisumpopulations. Histological analyses revealed that coinfectingRickettsiellaandHamiltonellaexhibited overlapping localizations in secondary bacteriocytes, sheath cells, and hemolymph, whileRickettsiella-specific localization was found in oenocytes.Rickettsiellainfections consistently altered hosts' body color from red to green, where the greenish hue was affected by both host and symbiont genotypes.Rickettsiella-Hamiltonellacoinfections also changed red aphids to green; this greenish hue tended to be enhanced byHamiltonellacoinfection. With different host genotypes,Rickettsiellainfection exhibited either weakly beneficial or nearly neutral effects on host fitness, whereasHamiltonellainfection andRickettsiella-Hamiltonellacoinfection had negative effects. Despite considerable frequencies ofRickettsiellainfection in European and North AmericanA. pisumpopulations, noRickettsiellainfection was detected among 1,093 insects collected from 14 sites in Japan. On the basis of these results, we discuss possible mechanisms for the interaction ofRickettsiellawith other facultative symbionts, their effects on their hosts' phenotypes, and their persistence in natural host populations. We propose the designation “CandidatusRickettsiella viridis” for the symbiont.

scholarly journals Aphid Heritable Symbiont Exploits Defensive Mutualism

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Doremus ◽  
Kerry M. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Single Infection ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Defensive Mutualism ◽  
Potential Alternative ◽  
Hamiltonella Defensa ◽  
Alternative Routes

ABSTRACT Insects and other animals commonly form symbioses with heritable bacteria, which can exert large influences on host biology and ecology. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a model for studying effects of infection with heritable facultative symbionts (HFS), and each of its seven common HFS species has been reported to provide resistance to biotic or abiotic stresses. However, one common HFS, called X-type, rarely occurs as a single infection in field populations and instead typically superinfects individual aphids with Hamiltonella defensa, another HFS that protects aphids against attack by parasitic wasps. Using experimental aphid lines comprised of all possible infection combinations in a uniform aphid genotype, we investigated whether the most common strain of X-type provides any of the established benefits associated with aphid HFS as a single infection or superinfection with H. defensa. We found that X-type does not confer protection to any tested threats, including parasitoid wasps, fungal pathogens, or thermal stress. Instead, component fitness assays identified large costs associated with X-type infection, costs which were ameliorated in superinfected aphids. Together these findings suggest that X-type exploits the aphid/H. defensa mutualism and is maintained primarily as a superinfection by “hitchhiking” via the mutualistic benefits provided by another HFS. Exploitative symbionts potentially restrict the functions and distributions of mutualistic symbioses with effects that extend to other community members. IMPORTANCE Maternally transmitted bacterial symbionts are widespread and can have major impacts on the biology of arthropods, including insects of medical and agricultural importance. Given that host fitness and symbiont fitness are tightly linked, inherited symbionts can spread within host populations by providing beneficial services. Many insects, however, are frequently infected with multiple heritable symbiont species, providing potential alternative routes of symbiont maintenance. Here we show that a common pea aphid symbiont called X-type likely employs an exploitative strategy of hitchhiking off the benefits of a protective symbiont, Hamiltonella. Infection with X-type provides none of the benefits conferred by other aphid symbionts and instead results in large fitness costs, costs lessened by superinfection with Hamiltonella. These findings are corroborated by natural infections in field populations, where X-type is mostly found superinfecting aphids with Hamiltonella. Exploitative symbionts may be common in hosts with communities of heritable symbionts and serve to hasten the breakdown of mutualisms.

scholarly journals Spiroplasma Symbiont of the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Insecta: Homoptera)

2001 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 1284-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takema Fukatsu ◽  
Tsutomu Tsuchida ◽  
Naruo Nikoh ◽  
Ryuichi Koga
Keyword(s):  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Laboratory Strain ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Endosymbiotic Bacterium ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Central Japan ◽  
16S Ribosomal Dna ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Successive Generations

ABSTRACT From a laboratory strain of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, we discovered a previously unknown facultative endosymbiotic bacterium. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 16S ribosomal DNA revealed that the bacterium is a member of the genusSpiroplasma. The Spiroplasma organism showed stable vertical transmission through successive generations of the host. Injection of hemolymph from infected insects into uninfected insects established a stable infection in the recipients. TheSpiroplasma symbiont exhibited negative effects on growth, reproduction, and longevity of the host, particularly in older adults. Of 58 clonal strains of A. pisum established from natural populations in central Japan, 4 strains possessed theSpiroplasma organism.

scholarly journals The importance of antennae for pea aphid wing induction in the presence of natural enemies

2005 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kunert ◽  
W.W. Weisser
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Visual Signals ◽  
Wing Formation ◽  
Tactile Stimuli ◽  
Pea Aphids ◽  
General Response

AbstractThe pea aphidAcyrthosiphon pisumHarris has been shown to produce an increasing proportion of winged morphs among its offspring when exposed to natural enemies, in particular hoverfly larvae, lacewing larvae, adult and larval ladybirds and aphidiid parasitoids. While these results suggest that wing induction in the presence of predators and parasitoids is a general response of the pea aphid, the cues and mechanisms underlying this response are still unclear. Tactile stimuli and the perception of chemical signals as well as visual signals are candidates for suitable cues in the presence of natural enemies. In this paper the hypothesis that the aphids' antennae are crucial for the wing induction in the presence of natural enemies is tested. Antennae of pea aphids were ablated and morph production was scored when aphids were reared either in the presence or the absence of predatory lacewing larvae over a six-day period. Ablation of antennae resulted in a drastic drop in the proportion of winged morphs among the offspring, both in the presence and the absence of a predator whereas predator presence increased wing induction in aphids with intact antennae, as reported in previous experiments. The results show that antennae are necessary for wing induction in the presence of natural enemies. Critical re-examination of early work on the importance of aphid antennae and tactile stimuli for wing induction suggests that a combination of tactile and chemical cues is likely to be involved not only in predator-induced wing formation but also for wing induction in response to factors such as crowding in the aphid colony.

Influence of temperature on pea aphidAcyrthosiphon pisum(Hemiptera: Aphididae) resistance to natural enemy attack

2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Stacey ◽  
M.D.E. Fellowes
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Aphidius Ervi ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Clonal Variation ◽  
Escape Behaviour ◽  
Aphid Clone

AbstractThe ability to resist or avoid natural enemy attack is a critically important insect life history trait, yet little is understood of how these traits may be affected by temperature. This study investigated how different genotypes of the pea aphidAcyrthosiphon pisumHarris, a pest of leguminous crops, varied in resistance to three different natural enemies (a fungal pathogen, two species of parasitoid wasp and a coccinellid beetle), and whether expression of resistance was influenced by temperature. Substantial clonal variation in resistance to the three natural enemies was found. Temperature influenced the number of aphids succumbing to the fungal pathogenErynia neoaphidisRemaudière & Hennebert, with resistance increasing at higher temperatures (18 vs. 28°C). A temperature difference of 5°C (18 vs. 23°C) did not affect the ability ofA. pisumto resist attack by the parasitoidsAphidius erviHaliday andA. eadyiStarý, González & Hall. Escape behaviour from foraging coccinellid beetles (Hippodamia convergensGuerin-Meneville) was not directly influenced by aphid clone or temperature (16 vs. 21°C). However, there were significant interactions between clone and temperature (while most clones did not respond to temperature, one was less likely to escape at 16°C), and between aphid clone and ladybird presence (some clones showed greater changes in escape behaviour in response to the presence of foraging coccinellids than others). Therefore, while larger temperature differences may alter interactions betweenAcyrthosiphon pisumand an entomopathogen, there is little evidence to suggest that smaller changes in temperature will alter pea aphid–natural enemy interactions.

scholarly journals Genome Sequence of “Candidatus Serratia symbiotica” Strain IS, a Facultative Bacterial Symbiont of the Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naruo Nikoh ◽  
Ryuichi Koga ◽  
Kenshiro Oshima ◽  
Masahira Hattori ◽  
Takema Fukatsu
Keyword(s):  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Complete Genome Sequence ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Bacterial Symbiont ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Ecological Traits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Serratia Symbiotica

“Candidatus Serratia symbiotica” is a facultative bacterial symbiont of aphids that affects various ecological traits of the host insects. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of “Candidatus Serratia symbiotica” strain IS, consisting of a 2,736,352-bp chromosome and an 82,605-bp plasmid, from the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.

SPECIES COMPOSITION OF PEA APHID (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PARASITOIDS IN WISCONSIN

1987 ◽  
Vol 119 (11) ◽  
pp. 1055-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Thiboldeaux ◽  
W.D. Hutchison ◽  
D.B. Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Important Pest ◽  
Exponential Population Growth ◽  
Exponential Population

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), is an important pest of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., in Wisconsin because of its characteristic potential for exponential population growth (Hutchison and Hogg 1984, 1985) and the subsequent damage in both hay quality and quantity inflicted by high populations (Cuperus et al. 1982). In Wisconsin, as in most alfalfa-producing states, there is a vast complex of natural enemies (Hutchison and Hogg 1985) that influence pea aphid population dynamics, including the hymenopteran primary parasitoids from the Aphidiidae. These primary species, however, are also attacked by several secondary parasitoids from the families Megaspilidae, Pteromalidae, and Alloxystidae.

Alarm pheromone induces a transgenerational wing polyphenism in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 1138-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua O Podjasek ◽  
Lisa M Bosnjak ◽  
Daniel J Brooker ◽  
Edward B Mondor
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Alarm Pheromone ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Phenotypic Expression ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Morphological Adaptations

In response to increased predation risk, many organisms exhibit transgenerational polyphenisms whereby offspring have behavioural and (or) morphological adaptations to avoid natural enemies. The mechanisms underlying altered phenotypic expression, however, are not well understood. Aphids commonly exhibit a transgenerational wing-induction polyphenism in response to predators and parasitoids, but the stimuli inducing winged offspring production have not yet been identified. As aphids commonly emit the alarm pheromone (E)-β-farnesene (EBF) when physically attacked, this compound is a reliable signal of increased predation risk for asexual conspecifics. Here we show that maternal detection of EBF induces a transgenerational wing polyphenism in offspring of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris, 1776). In response to 50, 500, or 5000 ng of EBF vapor, aphids responded with 2.5-, 5.0-, and 6.0-fold increases in winged offspring production, respectively. Thus, alarm pheromone may alter aphid transgenerational phenotypic expression, thereby influencing aphid – natural enemy dynamics.

scholarly journals The Combined Effects of Bacterial Symbionts and Aging on Life History Traits in the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 470-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Laughton ◽  
Maretta H. Fan ◽  
Nicole M. Gerardo
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Symbiont ◽  
Cell Counts

ABSTRACTWhile many endosymbionts have beneficial effects on hosts under specific ecological conditions, there can also be associated costs. In order to maximize their own fitness, hosts must facilitate symbiont persistence while preventing symbiont exploitation of resources, which may require tight regulation of symbiont populations. As a host ages, the ability to invest in such mechanisms may lessen or be traded off with demands of other life history traits, such as survival and reproduction. Using the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum, we measured survival, lifetime fecundity, and immune cell counts (hemocytes, a measure of immune capacity) in the presence of facultative secondary symbionts. Additionally, we quantified the densities of the obligate primary bacterial symbiont,Buchnera aphidicola, and secondary symbionts across the host's lifetime. We found life history costs to harboring some secondary symbiont species. Secondary symbiont populations were found to increase with host age, whileBuchnerapopulations exhibited a more complicated pattern. Immune cell counts peaked at the midreproductive stage before declining in the oldest aphids. The combined effects of immunosenescence and symbiont population growth may have important consequences for symbiont transmission and maintenance within a host population.

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