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Rodrigues I, Ramos V, Benhadi-Marín J, Moreno A, Fereres A, Pereira JA, Baptista P. A novel molecular diagnostic method for the gut content analysis of Philaenus DNA. Sci Rep 2022; 12:492. [PMID: 35017549 PMCID: PMC8752687 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Philaenus spumarius is a vector of Xylella fastidiosa, one of the most dangerous plants pathogenic bacteria worldwide. There is currently no control measure against this pathogen. Thus, the development of vector control strategies, like generalist predators, such as spiders, could be essential to limit the spread of this vector-borne pathogen. In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approach was developed to principally detect DNA of P. spumarius in the spider's gut. Accordingly, 20 primer pairs, targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (cytB) genes, were tested for specificity, sensitivity, and efficiency in detecting P. spumarius DNA. Overall, two primer sets, targeting COI gene (COI_Ph71F/COI_Ph941R) and the cytB gene (cytB_Ph85F/cytB_Ph635R), showed the highest specificity and sensitivity, being able to amplify 870 pb and 550 bp fragments, respectively, with P. spumarius DNA concentrations 100-fold lower than that of the DNA of non-target species. Among these two primer sets, the cytB_Ph85F/cytB_Ph635R was able to detect P. spumarius in the spider Xysticus acerbus, reaching 50% detection success 82 h after feeding. The feasibility of this primer set to detect predation of P. spumarius by spiders was confirmed in the field, where 20% of the collected spiders presented positive amplifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Rodrigues
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal.,Departamento de Ingeniería Agrária, Universidad de Léon, Av. Portugal, n° 41, 24071, Léon, Spain
| | - Vítor Ramos
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Jacinto Benhadi-Marín
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Aránzazu Moreno
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICA-CSIC), C/Serrano 115 dpdo, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Fereres
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICA-CSIC), C/Serrano 115 dpdo, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Alberto Pereira
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Paula Baptista
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal.
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Soares JRS, da Silva Paes J, de Araújo VCR, de Araújo TA, Ramos RS, Picanço MC, Zanuncio JC. Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Natural Mortality Factors of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Bell Pepper Crops. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:445-455. [PMID: 32020496 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-020-00761-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pest populations are mostly regulated by climate, intra- and interspecific competition, natural enemies, and host plant quality. Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a widely adapted aphid in the agroecosystems and is one of the main bell pepper pests. In the present study, we determined the spatial and temporal dynamics and the regulatory factors of M. persicae populations in bell pepper crops. The number of aphids and their natural enemies were evaluated during 2 years in four commercial bell pepper fields. Myzus persicae density data were related to temperature, rainfall, and natural enemies by multiple regression analysis and were then submitted to geostatistical analysis. The density of M. persicae was higher during the plant's reproductive growth stage. Rainfall, Chrysoperla spp., and Toxomerus spp. regulate M. persicae populations. Initial infestations of this pest occur along the edges of the fields and subsequently spread towards the center. This information is useful for integrated management programs aimed at anticipating periods of higher abundance of M. persicae and identifying arthropods to be prioritized in biological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R S Soares
- Depto de Agronomia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
| | - J da Silva Paes
- Depto de Entomologia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
| | - V C R de Araújo
- Depto de Entomologia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
| | - T A de Araújo
- Depto de Entomologia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
| | - R S Ramos
- Depto de Entomologia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
| | - M C Picanço
- Depto de Agronomia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
- Depto de Entomologia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
| | - J C Zanuncio
- Depto de Agronomia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
- Depto de Entomologia, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
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Rendon D, Taylor PW, Wilder SM, Whitehouse MEA. Does prey encounter and nutrient content affect prey selection in wolf spiders inhabiting Bt cotton fields? PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210296. [PMID: 30629650 PMCID: PMC6328153 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolf spiders are abundant and voracious predators at the soil-plant interface in cotton crops. Among other prey, they attack late-instar larvae of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa spp., an economically important pest. Consequently, wolf spiders in transgenic Bt cotton could provide significant biological control of Bt-resistant Helicoverpa larvae that descend to the soil to pupate. The predator-prey interactions between wolf spiders and Helicoverpa could, however, be constrained by the presence of alternative prey and intraguild predators. This study used laboratory enclosures to analyse the effect of alternative prey on predatory selection of the wolf spider Tasmanicosa leuckartii Thorell. The prey included another wolf spider Hogna crispipes Koch (potential intraguild predator), the ground cricket Teleogryllus commodus Walker (minor pest), and Helicoverpa armigera larvae (major pest). We tested if encounter rates, prey vulnerability, and prey nutritional content influenced the likelihood that a prey was attacked. In three-way food webs, Tasmanicosa encountered and attacked Teleogryllus and Helicoverpa in similar frequencies. However, in the presence of a competing intraguild predator and potential prey (Hogna) in a four-way food web, Tasmanicosa did not always attack Teleogryllus at first encounter, but still attacked Helicoverpa at each encounter. Helicoverpa (protein-poor) and Hogna (protein-rich) were consumed by Tasmanicosa in similar proportions, suggesting that Tasmanicosa might benefit from nutrient balance as an outcome of diverse prey in this food web. As Teleogryllus (protein rich) escapes quicker than Helicoverpa and Hogna, Hogna may be an easier protein-rich option than Teleogryllus. Field surveys showed that while Teleogryllus was the most common prey, wolf spiders feed on diverse insect taxa, as well as other spiders. That Tasmanicosa readily attacked Helicoverpa larvae in the presence of alternative prey is an encouraging result that supports the potential of Tasmanicosa predation to assist in the control of Bt-resistant Helicoverpa larvae and thereby inhibit the proliferation and spread of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalila Rendon
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri NSW, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Phillip W. Taylor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Shawn M. Wilder
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK, United States of America
| | - Mary E. A. Whitehouse
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri NSW, Australia
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Michalko R, Pekár S, Entling MH. An updated perspective on spiders as generalist predators in biological control. Oecologia 2018; 189:21-36. [PMID: 30535723 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4313-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The role of generalist predators in biological control remains controversial as they may not only reduce pest populations but also disrupt biocontrol exerted by other natural enemies. Here, we focus on spiders as a model group of generalist predators. They are among the most abundant and most diverse natural enemies in agroecosystems. We review their functional traits that influence food-web dynamics and pest suppression at organisational levels ranging from individuals to communities. At the individual and population levels, we focus on hunting strategy, body size, life stage, nutritional target, and personality (i.e., consistent inter-individual differences in behaviour). These functional traits determine the spider trophic niches. We also focus on the functional and numerical response to pest densities and on non-consumptive effects of spiders on pests. At the community level, we review multiple-predator effects and effect of alternative prey on pest suppression. Evidence for a key role of spiders in pest suppression is accumulating. Importantly, recent research has highlighted widespread non-consumptive effects and complex intraguild interactions of spiders. A better understanding of these effects is needed to optimize biocontrol services by spiders in agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radek Michalko
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin H Entling
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, 76829, Landau/Pfalz, Germany
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Macías-Hernández N, Athey K, Tonzo V, Wangensteen OS, Arnedo M, Harwood JD. Molecular gut content analysis of different spider body parts. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196589. [PMID: 29847544 PMCID: PMC5976152 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular gut-content analysis has revolutionized the study of food webs and feeding interactions, allowing the detection of prey DNA within the gut of many organisms. However, successful prey detection is a challenging procedure in which many factors affect every step, starting from the DNA extraction process. Spiders are liquid feeders with branched gut diverticula extending into their legs and throughout the prosoma, thus digestion takes places in different parts of the body and simple gut dissection is not possible. In this study, we investigated differences in prey detectability in DNA extracts from different parts of the spider´s body: legs, prosoma and opisthosoma, using prey-specific PCR and metabarcoding approaches. We performed feeding trials with the woodlouse hunter spider Dysdera verneaui Simon, 1883 (Dysderidae) to estimate the time at which prey DNA is detectable within the predator after feeding. Although we found that all parts of the spider body are suitable for gut-content analysis when using prey-specific PCR approach, results based on metabarcoding suggested the opisthosoma is optimal for detection of predation in spiders because it contained the highest concentration of prey DNA for longer post feeding periods. Other spiders may show different results compared to D. verneaui, but given similarities in the physiology and digestion in different families, it is reasonable to assume this to be common across species and this approach having broad utility across spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Macías-Hernández
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kacie Athey
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Vanina Tonzo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Owen S. Wangensteen
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Miquel Arnedo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - James D. Harwood
- College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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