Obligate association with gut bacterial symbiont in Japanese populations of the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Akiyo Tada, Yoshitomo Kikuchi, Takahiro Hosokawa, Dmitry L. Musolin, Kenji Fujisaki, Takema Fukatsu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) has a number of sac-like outgrowths, called crypts, in a posterior section of the midgut, wherein a specific bacterial symbiont is harbored. In previous studies on N. viridula from Hawaiian populations, experimental elimination of the symbiont caused few fitness defects in the host insect. Here we report that N. viridula from Japanese populations consistently harbors the same gammaproteobacterial gut symbiont, but, in contrast with previous work, experimental sterilization of the symbiont resulted in severe nymphal mortality, indicating an obligate host-symbiont relationship. Considering worldwide host-symbiont association and these experimental data, we suggest that N. viridula is generally and obligatorily associated with the gut symbiont, but that the effect of the symbiont on host biology may be different among geographic populations. Possible environmental factors that may affect the host-symbiont relationship are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)483-488
Number of pages6
JournalApplied Entomology and Zoology
Volume46
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Insect Science

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