Microbiome of pear psyllids: A tale about closely related species sharing their endosymbionts

Abstract

Psyllids are phloem‐feeding insects that can transmit plant pathogens such as phytoplasmas, intracellular bacteria causing numerous plant diseases worldwide. Their microbiomes are essential for insect physiology and may also influence the capacity of vectors to transmit pathogens. Using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, we compared the microbiomes of three sympatric psyllid species associated with pear trees in Central Europe. All three species are able to transmit ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’, albeit with different efficiencies. Our results revealed potential relationships between insect biology and microbiome composition that varied during psyllid ontogeny and between generations in Cacopsylla pyri and C. pyricola, as well as between localities in C. pyri. In contrast, no variations related to psyllid life cycle and geography were detected in C. pyrisuga. In addition to the primary endosymbiont Carsonella ruddii, we detected another highly abundant endosymbiont (unclassified Enterobacteriaceae). C. pyri and C. pyricola shared the same taxon of Enterobacteriaceae which is related to endosymbionts harboured by other psyllid species from various families. In contrast, C. pyrisuga carried a different Enterobacteriaceae taxon related to the genus Sodalis. Our study provides new insights into host–symbiont interactions in psyllids and highlights the importance of host biology and geography in shaping microbiome structure.

Wolbachia infection dynamics in a natural population of the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) across its seasonal generations

“…S2 a–b, Table 1 ). These immatures had been shown to be parasitised according to a COI barcoding approach 87 . Although the identification of the parasitoid present in the immatures was not formal, the detected Wolbachia strain was named w Saph after its potential host, S. aphidivorus .…”

“…Several immatures of C. pyri from CZ1 were shown to be parasitised based on COI gene sequences amplified from the sample DNA 87 . This barcoding approach allowed a tentative identification of the parasitoid as Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) based on the closest BLAST hit.…”

“…was extracted using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen), while the DNA of 13 specimens (3 ♂, 3 ♀, 7 imm. ), included in our previous metabarcoding study 87 , had been extracted using E.Z.N.A.® Tissue DNA Kit (Omega Bio-tek).…”

“…In addition, several Wolbachia strains from B. cockerelli are able to induce CI 83 – 86 . The recent metabarcoding study by 87 revealed high relative abundance of Wolbachia in several populations of the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri (Psyllidae) from the Czech Republic. In one of these populations, Wolbachia was detected across different developmental stages and seasonal generations throughout an entire year.…”

Investigating the microbial community of Cacopsylla spp. as potential factor in vector competence of phytoplasma

“…Each species not only harboured a species‐specific phylotype of Carsonella but also a variant of the second symbiont that was particularly abundant or even unique in this Cacopsylla species. Since related bacteria have been observed in several other Cacopsylla species (Fukatsu & Nikoh, 1998 ; Thao, Clark, et al, 2000 ; Thao, Moran, et al, 2000 ; Fromont et al, 2016 ; Cooper et al, 2017 ; Morrow et al, 2020 ; Nakabachi et al, 2022 ; Štarhová Serbina et al in revision ), these could represent a psyllid‐specific endosymbiont clade. The presence of species‐specific genotypes of Carsonella and the Enterobacteriaceae endosymbionts is suggestive of an history of co‐divergence with their hosts.…”