Secondary Bacterial Symbionts in Aphids

Abstract

Aphids are important agricultural pests that feed on plant sap and can reach high population densities in short time, causing plant quality and yield losses. Almost all aphids host symbiont bacteria that allow them to easily adapt to their environment. It is known that the primary symbiont Buchnera aphidicola synthesizes some essential amino acids and vitamins that its host needs, while the secondary symbiont bacteria have a wide range of effects, including protecting the host under stress conditions and resistance against natural enemies. Aphids have become a model system for studying insect-bacteria interactions. To date, secondary bacterial symbionts have been identified in many aphid species, and a significant literature bank has been provided on this interaction in natural populations. Knowing the role and importance of symbiont bacteria in aphid metabolism is very important in the control of these pests. This study reports that secondary symbionts hosted on aphids play important roles in aphid metabolism, therefore bacterial symbionts can be used effectively in controlling the aphids.