Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata
Abstract Background The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest of worldwide economic importance and a model for the development of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for fruit flies of the Tephritidae family (Diptera). SIT relies on the effective mating of l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Genetics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-020-00946-z |
| _version_ | 1817987704425545728 |
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| author | Katerina Nikolouli Antonios A. Augustinos Panagiota Stathopoulou Elias Asimakis Anastasios Mintzas Kostas Bourtzis George Tsiamis |
| author_facet | Katerina Nikolouli Antonios A. Augustinos Panagiota Stathopoulou Elias Asimakis Anastasios Mintzas Kostas Bourtzis George Tsiamis |
| author_sort | Katerina Nikolouli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest of worldwide economic importance and a model for the development of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for fruit flies of the Tephritidae family (Diptera). SIT relies on the effective mating of laboratory-reared strains and natural populations, and therefore requires an efficient mass-rearing system that will allow for the production of high-quality males. Adaptation of wild flies to an artificial laboratory environment can be accompanied by negative effects on several life history traits through changes in their genetic diversity and symbiotic communities. Such changes may lead to reduced biological quality and mating competitiveness in respect to the wild populations. Profiling wild populations can help understand, and maybe reverse, deleterious effects accompanying laboratory domestication thus providing insects that can efficiently and effectively support SIT application. Results In the present study, we analyzed both the genetic structure and gut symbiotic communities of natural medfly populations of worldwide distribution, including Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The genetic structure of 408 individuals from 15 distinct populations was analyzed with a set of commonly used microsatellite markers. The symbiotic communities of a subset of 265 individuals from 11 populations were analyzed using the 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing of single individuals (adults). Genetic differentiation was detected among geographically distant populations while adults originated from neighboring areas were genetically closer. Alpha and beta diversity of bacterial communities pointed to an overall reduced symbiotic diversity and the influence of the geographic location on the bacterial profile. Conclusions Our analysis revealed differences both in the genetic profile and the structure of gut symbiotic communities of medfly natural populations. The genetic analysis expanded our knowledge to populations not analyzed before and our results were in accordance with the existing scenarios regarding this species expansion and colonization pathways. At the same time, the bacterial communities from different natural medfly populations have been characterized, thus broadening our knowledge on the microbiota of the species across its range. Genetic and symbiotic differences between natural and laboratory populations must be considered when designing AW-IPM approaches with a SIT component, since they may impact mating compatibility and mating competitiveness of the laboratory-reared males. In parallel, enrichment from wild populations and/or symbiotic supplementation could increase rearing productivity, biological quality, and mating competitiveness of SIT-important laboratory strains. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:24:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1d47ae1183d426196cc72789bea7da0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2156 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:24:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1d47ae1183d426196cc72789bea7da02022-12-22T02:22:47ZengBMCBMC Genetics1471-21562020-12-0121S211310.1186/s12863-020-00946-zGenetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitataKaterina Nikolouli0Antonios A. Augustinos1Panagiota Stathopoulou2Elias Asimakis3Anastasios Mintzas4Kostas Bourtzis5George Tsiamis6Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and AgricultureInsect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and AgricultureDepartment of Environmental Engineering, University of PatrasDepartment of Environmental Engineering, University of PatrasDepartment of Biology, University of PatrasInsect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and AgricultureDepartment of Environmental Engineering, University of PatrasAbstract Background The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest of worldwide economic importance and a model for the development of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for fruit flies of the Tephritidae family (Diptera). SIT relies on the effective mating of laboratory-reared strains and natural populations, and therefore requires an efficient mass-rearing system that will allow for the production of high-quality males. Adaptation of wild flies to an artificial laboratory environment can be accompanied by negative effects on several life history traits through changes in their genetic diversity and symbiotic communities. Such changes may lead to reduced biological quality and mating competitiveness in respect to the wild populations. Profiling wild populations can help understand, and maybe reverse, deleterious effects accompanying laboratory domestication thus providing insects that can efficiently and effectively support SIT application. Results In the present study, we analyzed both the genetic structure and gut symbiotic communities of natural medfly populations of worldwide distribution, including Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The genetic structure of 408 individuals from 15 distinct populations was analyzed with a set of commonly used microsatellite markers. The symbiotic communities of a subset of 265 individuals from 11 populations were analyzed using the 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing of single individuals (adults). Genetic differentiation was detected among geographically distant populations while adults originated from neighboring areas were genetically closer. Alpha and beta diversity of bacterial communities pointed to an overall reduced symbiotic diversity and the influence of the geographic location on the bacterial profile. Conclusions Our analysis revealed differences both in the genetic profile and the structure of gut symbiotic communities of medfly natural populations. The genetic analysis expanded our knowledge to populations not analyzed before and our results were in accordance with the existing scenarios regarding this species expansion and colonization pathways. At the same time, the bacterial communities from different natural medfly populations have been characterized, thus broadening our knowledge on the microbiota of the species across its range. Genetic and symbiotic differences between natural and laboratory populations must be considered when designing AW-IPM approaches with a SIT component, since they may impact mating compatibility and mating competitiveness of the laboratory-reared males. In parallel, enrichment from wild populations and/or symbiotic supplementation could increase rearing productivity, biological quality, and mating competitiveness of SIT-important laboratory strains.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-020-00946-zMedflyMicrobiotaBacterial communitiesMicrosatellites16S rRNAIllumina sequencing |
| spellingShingle | Katerina Nikolouli Antonios A. Augustinos Panagiota Stathopoulou Elias Asimakis Anastasios Mintzas Kostas Bourtzis George Tsiamis Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata BMC Genetics Medfly Microbiota Bacterial communities Microsatellites 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing |
| title | Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata |
| title_full | Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata |
| title_fullStr | Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata |
| title_short | Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata |
| title_sort | genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the mediterranean fruit fly ceratitis capitata |
| topic | Medfly Microbiota Bacterial communities Microsatellites 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-020-00946-z |
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