Effects of tetracycline treatments on biological parameters and endosymbionts of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1


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Karaca M. M., Karut K.

2nd International Molecular Plant Protection Congress, Bursa, Turkey, 15 - 18 May 2023, pp.163

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • City: Bursa
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.163
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) harbors a variety of endosymbionts (depending on species) that play an important role in the pest’s biology and evolution. In this study, we investigated temporal changes of the endosymbionts (Portiera, Hamiltonella and Rickettsia) and biological parameters of B. tabaci Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) after Tetracycline treatments. Same age B. tabaci (female and male) were fed with tetracycline solution (50 mg/ml) while control group was fed only with sucrose for 48 hours. Then, one female and one male adult were placed on the lower surface of a cotton leaf enclosed in a clip cage. Individuals were transferred to new cages daily, and the number of eggs laid per day, development time of immature, mortality rates, and sex ratio were determined. Besides, ten B. tabaci adults were collected at five different ages (1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days old), placed in 95-100% ethanol for endosymbiont molecular analysis. Endosymbiont variations were detected with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using 16 and 23S ribosomal gene region primers. The reduction in the total number of eggs per female showed tetracycline treatments significantly reduced whitefly fecundity in both first (F0) and second (F1) generations. Tetracycline treatment was also prolonged the total mean development time of immature stages (32.2 day) and this value was 10 days longer than the control. Tetracycline treatments reduced the longevity of female but not males. Molecular analysis showed that all the three endosymbionts were reduced but not completely eliminated from the B. tabaci MEAM1 by tetracycline, and the effect of the tetracycline was varied depending on the species of endosymbionts and the age of the adult whitefly.