Determination of endosymbiont bacteria species of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera:Gelechidae) populations from the West Mediterranean region

Endosymbiotic bacteria in eukaryotic organisms show different effects in the host organism. The effect of endosymbionts on host physiology has been emphasized in many studies. The importance of these organisms; It is comprehensive from host nutrition to defense reactions, from resistance mechanism to reproductive changes. In most studies, endosymbiont composition differs in different regional populations of the same insect. In most studies, endosymbiont composition differs in different regional populations of the same insect. Tomato moth [Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] is one of the most important pests that threaten tomato cultivation. Rapid advances in molecular biology and functional genome science studies are of great importance in fully elucidating the relationship between endosymbionts and insects, which are harmful especially in agricultural products. Within the scope of the study, a total of 55 T. absoluta individuals were collected from 11 locations in the provinces of Antalya, Muğla, Isparta and Burdur in the Western Mediterranean Region. Wolbachia, Rickettsia and Spiroplasma from endosymbiont bacteria were screened in the insect species in question. The presence and rate of endosymbiont bacteria Wolbachia, Rickettsia and Spiroplasma in these individuals were determined by sequencing from PCR reactions. It was determined that the average incidence rate in the provinces was 76.3% Wolbachia, 78.1% Rickettsia and 90.9% Spiroplasma infections. As a result, it was determined that Rickettsia and Spiroplasma were the first records for T. absoluta in the world and in Turkey. Spiroplasma and Rickettsia, which could not be found until now, showed high value in our study.