First Report on Secondary Endosymbiont Bacteria of Pomegranate Aphid Aphis punicae Passerini, 1863 (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Authors : Nurperi Yamaklar, Erhan Koçak

Pages : 60-67

Doi:10.54975/isubuzfd.1775992

View : 49 | Download : 75

Publication Date : 2025-12-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is an important pest affecting pomegranate trees in various regions. Although its ecological impact is well documented, no previous studies have been conducted on its association with secondary bacterial endosymbionts. The study is the first report on the distribution and presence of four important secondary endosymbionts, Wolbachia, Arsenophonus, Rickettsia and Hamiltonella defensa, in field populations of A. punicae collected from Antalya, Turkey. Using species-specific primers and a descriptive Touchdown PCR protocol, endosymbiont infection was detected in all sampled individuals (n = 50) individually. Arsenophonus was the most common (74%), while Wolbachia was the least common (52%) endosymbiont. No aphid individual was infected with Wolbachia or Rickettsia alone; most individuals hosted co-infections and multiple infections. Our results suggest complex infection patterns with implications for aphid fitness, resistance and potential biological control strategies. These results will contribute to the figuring out of the microbial ecology of A. punicae and provide a foundation for future research into symbiont-mediated pest control.
Keywords : Aphis punicae, Arsenophonus, Hamiltonella, Rickettsia, Wolbachia

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