The plant pathogen Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 is beneficial to the fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis

Abstract

Abstract Plant pathogens can build relationships with insect hosts to complete their life cycles, and they often modify the behavior and development of hosts to improve their own fitness. In order to unravel whether some bacteria that can make fruit rot could have developed symbiotic interactions with Bactrocera dorsalis, we studied the symbiont bacteria profiles of the fly. We identified the bacterium Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 from the ovaries and eggs of the oriental fruit fly B. dorsalis and the amount of Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 increased significantly as the ovaries developed and in fruits on which non-sterile eggs were laid. Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 addition to bananas fastens the rotting process and its addition to the eggs fastens their development/hatching rate. All in all, our data suggest that Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 is beneficial to the fruit fly.

Keywords

• Bactrocera dorsalis
• Symbiont
• Plant pathogen
• Beneficial microbes