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Frequency of infection with A and B supergroup Wolbachia in insects and pests associated with mulberry and silkworm

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Abstract

Wolbachia is a ubiquitous, Gram-negative, vertically transmitted, alpha-proteobacterium that causes an array of reproductive abnormalities including cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization of genetic males, parthenogenesis in a number of insect species, among others. Wolbachia is now being exploited as an agent for pest and vector control. Previous surveys indicated that it is commonly seen in 16–76% of arthropods. In this paper, using polymerase chain reaction assay based on specific amplification of the ftsZ-A and-B supergroup Wolbachia gene fragments, we found that 30% of insects and pests screened were positive for Wolbachia. Among them 66.7% harbour double Wolbachia infection, while 33.3% harbour single Wolbachia infection. These results indicate widespread infection with both double and single Wolbachia, and provide a wealth of information to exploit this endobacterium for the management of pests and vectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Seribiotechnology, Department of Sericulture and Life Sciences, Bangalore University, Bangalore, 560 056, India

    B. M. Prakash & H. P. Puttaraju

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  1. B. M. Prakash
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  2. H. P. Puttaraju
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Correspondence to H. P. Puttaraju.

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Prakash, B.M., Puttaraju, H.P. Frequency of infection with A and B supergroup Wolbachia in insects and pests associated with mulberry and silkworm. J Biosci 32, 671–676 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-007-0067-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-007-0067-3

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