Species-resolved metagenomics reveal ecological effects on the microbiota in a global pest, the whitefly, using 2bRAD-M

Abstract Background Microbial communities including symbionts play vital roles in insect hosts. Abiotic factors, especially ecological factors also have significant influence on the structure of the microbiome and the abundance of symbionts within hosts. However, the effects of the bacterial symbionts and ecological factors on the microbiota in host whitefly remains poorly understood. Results In this study, 49 Bemisia tabaci MED populations collected in 23 locations around the world were sequenced using 2bRAD-M, to explore the relationships among ecological factors, symbionts and microbial diversities in whiteflies. Results revealed that microbial community structures significantly differed in the different geographical B. tabaci MED populations, and the abundance of many symbionts including Portiera, Hamiltonella, Rickettsia, Cardinium, and Wolbachia, significantly influenced with one another. Also, the diversity of bacterial communities in whiteflies were significantly affected by the relative abundance of symbionts including Cardinium and Hamiltonella. Meanwhile, environmental factors including temperature, precipitation, longitude and latitude significantly influenced the abundance of many symbionts and the diversity of bacterial communities in B. tabaci MED. Conclusions Overall, our results revealed complex interactions among ecological factors, among ecological factors, microbiota diversity and symbionts in B. tabaci MED. This helps to comprehend the complex interactions among these factors in insect hosts.