Microbiota of pest insect Nezara viridula mediate detoxification and plant defense repression

• Published in: The ISME Journal 2024-01, Vol.18 (1)
• Main Authors: Coolen, Silvia, Rogowska-van der Molen, Magda A, Kwakernaak, Ineke, van Pelt, Johan A, Postma, Jelle L, van Alen, Theo, Jansen, Robert S, Welte, Cornelia U
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Heteroptera - microbiology; Inactivation, Metabolic; Microbiota; Nitro Compounds - metabolism; Original; Plant Defense Against Herbivory; Propionates - metabolism; Salivary Glands - microbiology
• ISSN: 1751-7362; 1751-7370; 1751-7370
• DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae097

The Southern green shield bug, Nezara viridula, is an invasive piercing and sucking pest insect that feeds on crop plants and poses a threat to global food production. Given that insects are known to live in a close relationship with microorganisms, our study provides insights into the community composition and function of the N. viridula-associated microbiota and its effect on host-plant interactions. We discovered that N. viridula hosts both vertically and horizontally transmitted microbiota throughout different developmental stages and their salivary glands harbor a thriving microbial community that is transmitted to the plant while feeding. The N. viridula microbiota was shown to aid its host with the detoxification of a plant metabolite, namely 3-nitropropionic acid, and repression of host plant defenses. Our results demonstrate that the N. viridula-associated microbiota plays an important role in interactions between insects and plants and could therefore be considered a valuable target for the development of sustainable pest control strategies.