Parthenogenesis and Sex-Ratio Distorting Bacteria inEmpoasca(Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Leafhoppers

Dora Aguin-Pombo,Marilia C P A Rodrigues,Johannes A J Breeuwer,Betsie Voetdijk

doi:10.1093/aesa/saab025

Abstract

AbstractEndosymbiotic bacteria can induce parthenogenesis in many haplo-diploid species, but little is known about their role in asexual reproduction in diplodiploids. Bacteria are essential for reproduction in the asexual lineages of springtails and booklice, and possibly some weevils, but whether they are the causative agent of parthenogenesis remains to be proven. This would require comparing unisexual forms and their closely related bisexual species, but such model species are very rare. Empoasca leafhoppers from the Madeira Archipelago provide an excellent case to test whether bacterial infections can cause parthenogenesis. Here we examined the diversity of the sex-distorting bacteria, Wolbachia, Cardinium, Rickettsia, and Arsenophonus, in three apomictic morphotypes (A, B, C) and three bisexual relatives of Empoasca. Wolbachia of group B was present in all unisexual and bisexual species. Rickettsia were the only bacteria restricted to the three unisexual forms, suggesting an association between infection and asexual reproduction. In addition, we found Asaia for the third time in the Cicadellidae, although this may have little to do with the reproductive mode of its host. Adult females of morphotype C reared on plants watered with tetracycline solution did not result in the production of male offspring. To our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest a possible association between bacterial infection and parthenogenesis in apomictic XO/XX diplodiploid bisexual species based on a range of sex ratio-distorting bacteria.

Highlights

Endosymbiotic bacteria can induce parthenogenesis in many haplo-diploid species, but little is known about their role in asexual reproduction in diplodiploids
Adult females of morphotype C reared on plants watered with tetracycline solution did not result in the production of male offspring. This is the first study to suggest a possible association between bacterial infection and parthenogenesis in apomictic XO/XX diplodiploid bisexual species based on a range of sex ratiodistorting bacteria
Unisexual forms are known only in Madeira, whereas bisexual species are widespread in Africa, Europe, and Central and North America, with the exception of E. alsiosa Ribaut, 1933, which is native to Madeira Archipelago, Canary Islands, and the western Mediterranean (Nast 1972, 1987)

Summary

Introduction

Endosymbiotic bacteria can induce parthenogenesis in many haplo-diploid species, but little is known about their role in asexual reproduction in diplodiploids. Bacteria are essential for reproduction in the asexual lineages of springtails and booklice, and possibly some weevils, but whether they are the causative agent of parthenogenesis remains to be proven This would require comparing unisexual forms and their closely related bisexual species, but such model species are very rare. Adult females of morphotype C reared on plants watered with tetracycline solution did not result in the production of male offspring To our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest a possible association between bacterial infection and parthenogenesis in apomictic XO/XX diplodiploid bisexual species based on a range of sex ratiodistorting bacteria. In leafhoppers of the genus Zyginidia Haupt, 1929 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Wolbachia can skew sex ratio toward females by feminizing genetically determined males (Negri et al 2006) and may be responsible for the production of intersex individuals in Eupteryx Curtis 1829 leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) (Henke et al 2013)

Methods

Results

Conclusion