Co-Existence, Phylogeny and Putative Role of Wolbachia and Yeast-Like Symbiont (YLS) in Kerria lacca (Kerr)

Abstract

This study reports the first detection of Wolbachia and yeast-like symbiont (YLS) harbored in Kerria lacca (Kerr), a scale insect, latter of which produces an economically important natural resin, known as lac. Wolbachia was detected using PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rDNA; and further confirmation and phylogenetic analysis was carried out by fast evolving wsp gene. Neighbor-joining and maximum parsimonious (MP) analysis showed that this strain belongs to subgroup "ori" of Wolbachia super group B of arthropods. Wolbachia of K. lacca is hereby designated as "wKerlac" according to Wolbachia nomenclature system. Histological study revealed the presence of yeast-like endosymbiont, which was also confirmed by PCR amplification of 18S rDNA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that YLS of K. lacca is quite distinct from YLS of aphid, planthoppers, and beetles. Putative roles of Wolbachia in lecanoid chromosome system of sex determination and in biased sex ratio of K. lacca populations; and YLS in nutritional supplementation and detoxifying substances which are deleterious to K. lacca, are hereby, suggested.

Bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia are obligatory symbionts of the eriococcids Acanthococcus aceris Signoret, 1875 and Gossyparia spuria (Modeer, 1778) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coccoidea)

“…types of symbionts, their distribution in the host body and the mode of transmission to the next generation) of scale insects have not been extensively studied so far. However, it is known that in comparison with related hemipterans as aphids, whiteflies and psyllids, scale insects are characterized by an enormous diversity of symbionts (Walczuch, 1932;Buchner, 1965;Fukatsu and Nikoh, 2000;von Dohlen et al, 2001;Baumann et al, 2002;Szklarzewicz et al, 2006Szklarzewicz et al, , 2013Matsuura et al, 2009;Vashishtha et al, 2011;Gruwell et al, 2010Gruwell et al, , 2012Gruwell et al, , 2014Dhami et al, 2012).…”

“Phloem sap analysis of Schleichera oleosa (Lour) Oken, Butea monosperma (Lam) Taub. and Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam) and hemolymph of Kerria lacca (Kerr) using HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry”

“…Further, significant presence of essential amino acids in the lac insect inspite of highly deficient diet consumption (phloem sap) led to the detection of endosymbionts in lac insect, which are capable of correcting the nutritional deficiency of phloem sap. We reported for the first time the occurrence of endosymbionts (Wolbachia and yeast-like endosymbionts) in lac insect (Vashishtha et al 2011). These endosymbionts are not reported for correcting the deficiency of essential amino acids therefore, we suggested the presence of other such endosymbiots in lac insect.…”

Genomic Analysis of an Ascomycete Fungus from the Rice Planthopper Reveals How It Adapts to an Endosymbiotic Lifestyle

“…Though the lineage from which the YLS is derived is still unclear, the closest relative is T. inflatum , which is widely distributed in soils and also a pathogen of beetles. Fungal endosymbionts have also been reported in diverse insect hosts ( Buchner 1965 ; Gibson and Hunter 2010 ), such as scale insects ( Vashishtha et al 2011 ) and several families of beetles (Coleoptera: Anobiidae, Cerambycidae, and Scolytidae) ( Jones et al 1999 ). The bacterial symbionts had been extremely specialized, which led to a lower capacity for variation.…”