Complete mitochondrial genome of melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera:Tephritidae) from Kunming, Southwest China and the phylogeny within subfamily Dacinae.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Zhou XH
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7781894 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:While contemporary changes in feeding preferences have been documented in phytophagous insects, the mechanisms behind these processes remain to be fully clarified. In this context, the insect gut microbiome plays a central role in adaptation to novel host plants. The cucurbit frugivorous fruit fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera, Tephritidae) has occasionally been reported on "unconventional" host plants from different families, including Solanaceae. In this study, we focus on wild parental (F0 ) adults and semiwild first filial (F1 ) larvae of Z. cucurbitae from multiple sites in La Réunion and explore how the gut microbiome composition changes when this fly is feeding on a noncucurbit host (Solanum melongena). Our analyses show nonobvious gut microbiome responses following the F0 -F1 host shift and the importance of not just diet but also local effects, which heavily affected the diversity and composition of microbiomes. We identified the main bacterial genera responsible for differences between treatments. These data further stress the importance of a careful approach when drawing general conclusions based on laboratory populations or inadequately replicated field samples.
| S-EPMC9380402 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The striped fruit fly, Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellata occurred in East and Southeast Asia and is one of the most serious pest insects in China. Complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced and characterized for the fruit fly from Anshun, Guizhou Province in Southwest China. The pest fruit fly has a total length of 15,904 bp, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA genes and a non-coding region (A + T-rich control region). The phylogenetic position of B. scutellata was closely clustered with B. cucurbitae, B. tau, B. caudata and B. diaphora. The all species of the subgenus Zeugodacus formed a sister group which was monophyletic. The complete mitochondrial genome of B. scutellata will provide helpful information for genetics, systematics and phylogeny of tephritid fruit flies, Particularly Bactrocera genus.
| S-EPMC7800262 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Irradiation can be used as an insect pest management technique to reduce post-harvest yield losses. It causes major physiological changes, impairing insect development and leading to mortality. This technique is used to control the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae, a major pest of Cucurbitaceae in Asia. Here, we applied irradiation to melon fly eggs, and the larvae emerged from irradiated eggs were used to conduct comparative transcriptomics and thereby identify key genes involved in the development and survival. We found 561 upregulated and 532 downregulated genes in irradiated flies compared to non-irradiated flies. We also observed abnormal small-body phenotypes in irradiated flies. By screening the 532 downregulated genes, we selected eight candidate genes putatively involved in development based in described functions in public databases and in the literature. We first established the expression profile of each candidate gene. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we individually knocked down each gene in third instar larvae and measured the effects on development. The knockdown of ImpE2 ecdysone-inducible gene controlling life stage transitions-led to major body size reductions in both pupae and adults. The knockdown of the tyrosine-protein kinase-like tok (Tpk-tok) caused severe body damage to larvae, characterized by swollen and black body parts. Adults subject to knockdown of the eclosion hormone (Eh_1) failed to shed their old cuticle which remained attached to their bodies. However, no obvious developmental defects were observed following the knockdown of the heat shock protein 67B1-like (Hsp67), the insulin receptor (Insr), the serine/threonine-protein kinase Nek4 (Nek4), the tyrosine-protein kinase transmembrane receptor Ror (Ror_1) and the probable insulin-like peptide 1 (Insp_1). We argue that irradiation can be successfully used not only as a pest management technique but also for the screening of essential developmental genes in insects via comparative transcriptomics. Our results demonstrate that ImpE2 and Eh_1 are essential for the development of melon fly and could therefore be promising candidates for the development of RNAi-based pest control strategies.
| S-EPMC9887199 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), is an important destructive pest worldwide. Functional studies of the genes associated with development and reproduction during different life stages are limited in Z. cucurbitae. There have yet to be comprehensive transcriptomic resources for genetic and functional genomic studies to identify the molecular mechanisms related to its development and reproduction. In this study, we comprehensively sequenced the transcriptomes of four different developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adults. Using the Illumina RNA-Seq technology, we constructed 52 libraries from 13 stages with four biological replicates in each and generated 435.61 Gb clean reads. We comprehensively characterized the transcriptomes with high-coverage mapping to the reference genome. A total of 13,760 genes were mapped to the reference genome, and another 4481 genes were characterized as new genes. Finally, 14,931 genes (81.85%) were functionally annotated against six annotation databases. This study provides the first comprehensive transcriptome data of all developmental stages of Z. cucurbitae, and will serve as a valuable resource for future genetic and functional studies.
| S-EPMC7012831 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Radiation is considered as a promising insect pest control strategy for minimizing postharvest yield losses. Among various techniques, irradiation is a method of choice as it induces lethal biochemical or molecular changes that cause a downstream cascade of abrupt physiological abnormalities at the cellular level. In this study, we evaluated the effect of 60Co-γ radiation on various developmental stages of Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquillett and subsequent carry-over effects on the progeny. For this purpose, we treated eggs with 30- and 50-Gy radiation doses of 60Co-γ. We found that radiation significantly affected cellular antioxidants, insect morphology, and gene expression profiles. Our results indicate that in response to various doses of irradiation reactive oxygen species, catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were increased along with a significant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. We observed higher mortality rates during the pupal stage of the insects that hatched from irradiated eggs (50 Gy). Furthermore, the life span of the adults was reduced in response to 50 Gy radiation. The negative effects carried over to the next generation were marked by significantly lower fecundity in the F1 generation of the irradiation groups as compared to control. The radiation induced morphological abnormalities at the pupal, as well as the adult, stages. Furthermore, variations in the gene expression following irradiation are discussed. Taken together, our results signify the utility of 60Co-γ radiation for fruit fly postharvest management.
| S-EPMC8557839 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Gut microbial communities are critical in determining the evolutive success of fruit fly phytophagous pests (Diptera, Tephritidae), facilitating their adaptation to suboptimal environmental conditions and to plant allelochemical defences. An important source of variation for the microbial diversity of fruit flies is represented by the crop on which larvae are feeding. However, a "crop effect" is not always the main driver of microbial patterns, and it is often observed in combination with other and less obvious processes. In this work, we aim at verifying if environmental stress and, by extension, changing environmental conditions, can promote microbial diversity in Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), a cosmopolitan pest of cucurbit crops. With this objective, 16S rRNA metabarcoding was used to test differences in the microbial profiles of wild fly populations in a large experimental setup in Eastern Central Tanzania. The analysis of 2,973 unique ASV, which were assigned to 22 bacterial phyla, 221 families and 590 putative genera, show that microbial α diversity (as estimated by Abundance Coverage Estimator, Faith's Phylogenetic Diversity, Shannon-Weiner and the Inverse Simpson indexes) as well as β microbial diversity (as estimated by Compositional Data analysis of ASVs and of aggregated genera) significantly change as the species gets closer to its altitudinal limits, in farms where pesticides and agrochemicals are used. Most importantly, the multivariate dispersion of microbial patterns is significantly higher in these stressful environmental conditions thus indicating that Anna Karenina effects contribute to the microbial diversity of Z. cucurbitae. The crop effect was comparably weaker and detected as non-consistent changes across the experimental sites. We speculate that the impressive adaptive potential of polyphagous fruit flies is, at least in part, related to the Anna Karenina principle, which promotes stochastic changes in the microbial diversity of fly populations exposed to suboptimal environmental conditions.
| S-EPMC10990204 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Simple Summary Melon flies in Hawaii have developed high levels of resistance to a widely used insecticidal bait containing the active ingredient spinosad. Since farmers relied heavily on this product and have few alternatives, we tested three other insectides mixed with a bait spray called Nu-Lure. The three products (Agri-Mek SC, Mustang Maxx, and Malathion 5EC) were all found to be effective in either decreasing melon fly numbers or suppressing the growth of the population in the field. When used one-by-one in rotation for two weeks per product at one-week intervals on a commercial zucchini farm, melon fly populations were dramatically reduced and the yield of zucchinis harvested was substantially increased. Abstract High levels of resistance to the spinosad-based insecticidal protein bait GF-120 have been detected in some populations of melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in Hawaii in 2017. To provide cucurbit farmers in Hawaii with alternative insecticides, we field-tested the effectiveness of Agri-Mek SC (a.i., abamectin), Mustang Maxx (a.i., zeta-cypermethrin), and Malathion 5EC (a.i., malathion), added to a protein bait spray (Nu-Lure Insect Bait). The insecticide and protein bait combinations were applied to the roosting plants of Z. cucurbitae around the perimeter of the cucurbit fields at one-week intervals. When individually tested, all three insecticides in combination with protein bait significantly reduced or suppressed the numbers of female flies caught in torula yeast traps. A two-week rotation of weekly applications of the three insecticides and GF-120 significantly reduced Z. cucurbitae numbers on a commercial zucchini farm on Maui. The percentage of marketable fruits harvested increased from 51% to 98% after implementing the insecticide rotation. Our findings will be used to provide cucurbit farmers with additional products to control Z. cucurbitae. The future focus will be on educating cucurbit farmers to use the insecticide rotation strategy to prevent or delay resistance development.
| S-EPMC9323022 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSymbiotic bacteria contribute to a multitude of important biological functions such as nutrition and reproduction and affect multiple physiological factors like fitness and longevity in their insect hosts. The melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), is an important agricultural pest that affects a variety of cultivated plants belonging mostly to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is considered invasive and widespread in many parts of the world. Several approaches are currently being considered for the management of its populations including the environmentally friendly and effective sterile insect technique (SIT), as a component of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. In the present study, we examined the effect of diet and radiation on the bacterial symbiome of Z. cucurbitae flies with the use of Next Generation Sequencing technologies.ResultsMelon flies were reared on two diets at the larval stage, an artificial bran-based diet and on sweet gourd, which affected significantly the development of the bacterial profiles. Significant differentiation was also observed based on gender. The effect of radiation was mostly diet dependent, with irradiated melon flies reared on the bran diet exhibiting a significant reduction in species diversity and richness compared to their non-irradiated controls. Changes in the bacterial symbiome of the irradiated melon flies included a drastic reduction in the number of sequences affiliated with members of Citrobacter, Raoultella, and Enterobacteriaceae. At the same time, an increase was observed for members of Enterobacter, Providencia and Morganella. Interestingly, the irradiated male melon flies reared on sweet gourd showed a clear differentiation compared to their non-irradiated controls, namely a significant reduction in species richness and minor differences in the relative abundance for members of Enterobacter and Providencia.ConclusionsThe two diets in conjunction with the irradiation affected significantly the formation of the bacterial symbiome. Melon flies reared on the bran-based artificial diet displayed significant changes in the bacterial symbiome upon irradiation, in all aspects, including species richness, diversity and composition. When reared on sweet gourd, significant changes occurred to male samples due to radiation, only in terms of species richness.
| S-EPMC6918631 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Four new species of Zeugodacus Hendel are described from India viz., Zeugodacusmomordicae David & Ajaykumara, sp. nov. from Arunachal Pradesh infesting male flower buds of Momordicadioica, Zeugodacusnasivittatus David & Abhishek, sp. nov. from Meghalaya, Zeugodacus (Sinodacus) sinuvittatus David & Abhishek, sp. nov. from Himachal Pradesh and Zeugodacus (Zeugodacus) umiam David & Kennedy, sp. nov. from Meghalaya. An illustrated key to all species of Zeugodacus from India is also included. Bactrocera (Parazeugodacus) abbreviata (Hardy) and Dacus (Mellesis) vijaysegarani Drew & Hancock are recorded for the first time from India.
| S-EPMC10782515 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This paper reviews all available information regarding the occurrence and biology of the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), in the Afrotropical Region, including data on invasion history, distribution patterns, population genetics, host range, and interspecific competition. Although limited intraspecific variability has been observed within the region regarding the above mentioned aspects, there seems to be no indication that Zeugodacus cucurbitae represents a species complex. A checklist of all of the species included in Zeugodacus as recently proposed by Virgilio et al. (2015) is provided.
| S-EPMC4714087 | biostudies-other