Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets

The fall armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major invasive pest that seriously threatens world agricultural production and food security. Microorganisms play a crucial role in the growth and development of insects. However, the diversity and dynamics of...

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Main Authors: Dan-Dan Li, Jin-Yang Li, Zu-Qing Hu, Tong-Xian Liu, Shi-Ze Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/9/762
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author Dan-Dan Li
Jin-Yang Li
Zu-Qing Hu
Tong-Xian Liu
Shi-Ze Zhang
author_facet Dan-Dan Li
Jin-Yang Li
Zu-Qing Hu
Tong-Xian Liu
Shi-Ze Zhang
author_sort Dan-Dan Li
collection DOAJ
description The fall armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major invasive pest that seriously threatens world agricultural production and food security. Microorganisms play a crucial role in the growth and development of insects. However, the diversity and dynamics of gut microbes with different developmental stages, environmental habitats, and diets in <i>S. frugiperda</i> remain unclear. In this study, we found the changes of the microbiome of <i>S. frugiperda</i> across their life stages, and the bacteria were dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The community composition of the egg stage was quite different from other developmental stages, which had the highest community diversity and community richness, and was dominated by Proteobacteria. The bacterial community compositions of male and female adults were similar to those of early larvae stage (L1–L2), and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with abundant content were <i>Enterococcus</i> and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria, including <i>Enterobacteria</i>, <i>Klebsiella</i>, <i>Pantoea</i>, and <i>Escherichia</i>. The third instar larvae (L3) mainly consist of <i>Enterococcus</i>. The late stage larvae (L4–L6) harbored high proportions of <i>Enterococcus</i>, <i>Rhodococcus,</i> and <i>Ralstonia</i>. There was no significant difference in gut microbial composition between field populations and laboratory populations in a short period of rearing time. However, after long-term laboratory feeding, the gut microbial diversity of <i>S. frugiperda</i> was significantly reduced. <i>Enterococcus</i> and <i>Rhodococccus</i> of <i>S. frugiperda</i> feeding on maize showed higher relative proportion, while the microbial community of <i>S. frugiperda</i> feeding on artificial diet was composed mainly of <i>Enterococcus</i>, with a total of 98% of the gut microbiota. The gene functions such as metabolism, cell growth and death, transport and catabolism, and environmental adaptation were more active in <i>S. frugiperda</i> feeding on corn than those feeding on artificial diet. In short, these results indicate that developmental stage, habitat, and diet can alter the gut bacteria of <i>S. frugiperda</i>, and suggest a vertical transmission route of bacteria in <i>S. frugiperda</i>. A comprehensive understanding of gut microbiome of <i>S. frugiperda</i> will help develop novel pest control strategies to manage this pest.
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spelling doaj.art-adff186f8d1a4007922f1159c1c34b8c2023-11-23T16:54:19ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-08-0113976210.3390/insects13090762Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and DietsDan-Dan Li0Jin-Yang Li1Zu-Qing Hu2Tong-Xian Liu3Shi-Ze Zhang4State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaThe fall armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major invasive pest that seriously threatens world agricultural production and food security. Microorganisms play a crucial role in the growth and development of insects. However, the diversity and dynamics of gut microbes with different developmental stages, environmental habitats, and diets in <i>S. frugiperda</i> remain unclear. In this study, we found the changes of the microbiome of <i>S. frugiperda</i> across their life stages, and the bacteria were dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The community composition of the egg stage was quite different from other developmental stages, which had the highest community diversity and community richness, and was dominated by Proteobacteria. The bacterial community compositions of male and female adults were similar to those of early larvae stage (L1–L2), and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with abundant content were <i>Enterococcus</i> and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria, including <i>Enterobacteria</i>, <i>Klebsiella</i>, <i>Pantoea</i>, and <i>Escherichia</i>. The third instar larvae (L3) mainly consist of <i>Enterococcus</i>. The late stage larvae (L4–L6) harbored high proportions of <i>Enterococcus</i>, <i>Rhodococcus,</i> and <i>Ralstonia</i>. There was no significant difference in gut microbial composition between field populations and laboratory populations in a short period of rearing time. However, after long-term laboratory feeding, the gut microbial diversity of <i>S. frugiperda</i> was significantly reduced. <i>Enterococcus</i> and <i>Rhodococccus</i> of <i>S. frugiperda</i> feeding on maize showed higher relative proportion, while the microbial community of <i>S. frugiperda</i> feeding on artificial diet was composed mainly of <i>Enterococcus</i>, with a total of 98% of the gut microbiota. The gene functions such as metabolism, cell growth and death, transport and catabolism, and environmental adaptation were more active in <i>S. frugiperda</i> feeding on corn than those feeding on artificial diet. In short, these results indicate that developmental stage, habitat, and diet can alter the gut bacteria of <i>S. frugiperda</i>, and suggest a vertical transmission route of bacteria in <i>S. frugiperda</i>. A comprehensive understanding of gut microbiome of <i>S. frugiperda</i> will help develop novel pest control strategies to manage this pest.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/9/762<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>gut microbiotadevelopmental stagehost dietenvironmental habitat16S rRNA
spellingShingle Dan-Dan Li
Jin-Yang Li
Zu-Qing Hu
Tong-Xian Liu
Shi-Ze Zhang
Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets
Insects
<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
gut microbiota
developmental stage
host diet
environmental habitat
16S rRNA
title Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets
title_full Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets
title_fullStr Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets
title_full_unstemmed Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets
title_short Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets
title_sort fall armyworm gut bacterial diversity associated with different developmental stages environmental habitats and diets
topic <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
gut microbiota
developmental stage
host diet
environmental habitat
16S rRNA
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/9/762
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