Characterization of the cytoplasmic incompatibility types of Wolbachia in single and double infected Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera, Tephritidae)
Abstract
Crossing experiments between populations of the European cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cerasi showed patterns of unidirectional incompatibility. Females from northern populations crossed with males from southern populations did not yield viable eggs whereas the reciprocal cross resulted in normal numbers of offspring. Central European R. cerasi populations were screened by PCR using Wolbachia specific primers. All individuals were found to be infected by Wolbachia, a proteobacteria which can cause cytoplasmic incompatibility in insects. Sequence analysis and RFLP revealed the presence of two different Wolbachia strains in southwestern populations and single infections with one of the two strains in northeastern populations. This project will focus on the characterization of the cytoplasmic incompatibility types of the Wolbachia infections in R. cerasi. The present geographic distribution of both Wolbachia strains will be studied by screening European populations and more detailed by the screening of individuals collected in transects through the incompatibility zone. Crossing experiments of field collected individuals will reveal the level of cytoplasmic incompatibility, transmission rate and segregation of the Wolbachia strains in the field. Transinfection experiments will allow the comparison of both Wolbachia strains from R. cerasi with a closely related strain of Drosophila simulans from Coffs Harbour.
keywords Rhagoletis cerasi Diptera cytoplasmic incompatibility Wolbachia host-fitness
Publikationen
Wolbachia infections and superinfections in cytoplasmically incompatible populations of the European cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera, Tephritidae).
Autoren: Riegler, M; Stauffer, C Jahr: 2002
Journal articles
Wolbachia transfer from Rhagoletis cerasi to Drosophila simulans: investigating the outcomes of host-symbiont coevolution.
Autoren: Riegler, M; Charlat, S; Stauffer, C; Merçot, H; Jahr: 2004
Journal articles
Project staff
Christian Stauffer
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Christian Stauffer
christian.stauffer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91631
Project Leader
01.01.2000 - 31.12.2002