Diversity of endosymbiotic bacteria in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) on alfalfa in Chile

Facultative bacterial endosymbionts are prevalent in aphid pest species and key organisms for the rapid adaptation to changing environment conditions under agricultural management. endosymbiont interactions allow beneficial phenotypes of insect hosts, providing resistance against natural enemies, fungal infections as well enhanced thermal conditions, among others. These have been highlighted important modulators evolution defenses, being a aspect invasive potential aphids pests. In this study, we examined community diversity associated pea Acyrthosiphon pisum on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crops Central Chile by determining presence abundance seven most common facultative reported species, including: Hamiltonella defensa, Regiella insecticola, Serratia symbiotica, Spiroplasma sp., Rickettsia Rickettsiella viridis Fukatsuia symbiotica (or X-type symbiont’ PAXS), using PCR-based approach across species-specific primers, 16 fields during Chilean spring Maule Region. We six studied, observing high frequency infected H. predominant populations different studied. As defensa has extensively studied its defensive role parasitoids, discuss implications biological control also absence relevant such F. success program.