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Host-Dependent Variation in Tetranychus urticae Fitness and Microbiota Composition Across Strawberry Cultivars
by
Xu Zhang
1,2,
Hongjun Yang
1,2,
Zhiming Yan
1,2,
Yuanhua Wang
1,2,
Quanzhi Wang
1,2,
Shimei Huo
1,2,
Zhan Chen
3,4,
Jialong Cheng
1,2 and
Kun Yang
3,4,* 1
College of Agronomy and Horticulture, Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Zhenjiang 212400, China
2
Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Center for Modern Horticulture, Zhenjiang 212400, China
3
Shandong Province Centre for Bioinvasions and Eco-Security, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
4
Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2025, 16(8), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080767
Submission received: 28 May 2025
/
Revised: 20 July 2025
/
Accepted: 21 July 2025
/
Published: 25 July 2025
Simple Summary
This study investigates how different strawberry cultivars affect the fitness and bacterial microbiota of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. The research found that mites reared on the ‘Xuetu’ cultivar exhibited the highest fecundity, while those on ‘Xuelixiang’ had the shortest pre-adult development time. Additionally, ‘Xuelixiang’, ‘Xuetu’, and ‘Ningyu’ cultivars supported longer mite longevity compared to others. Microbiota analysis revealed that Wolbachia was the predominant bacterium across all mite groups, with varying abundances of other bacteria like Pedobacter and Virgibacillus depending on the strawberry cultivar. Notably, male mites exhibited higher bacterial diversity than females. These findings suggest that strawberry cultivar selection can influence mite fitness and microbiota composition, providing insights for developing integrated pest management strategies.
Abstract
Tetranychus urticae, commonly known as the two-spotted spider mite, is a highly adaptable and polyphagous arthropod in the family Tetranychidae, capable of feeding on over 1200 plant species, including strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). The fitness and microbiota of herbivorous arthropods can vary significantly across different plant species and cultivars. In this study, we investigated the fecundity, longevity, growth rate, and microbiota composition of T. urticae reared on seven Chinese strawberry cultivars: Hongyan (HY), Yuexiu (YX), Tianshi (TS), Ningyu (NY), Xuetu (XT), Zhangjj (ZJ), and Xuelixiang (XLX). Our findings revealed significant differences among cultivars: mites reared on the XT cultivar exhibited the highest fecundity (166.56 ± 7.82 eggs), while those on XLX had the shortest pre-adult period (7.71 ± 0.13 days). Longevity was significantly extended in mites reared on XLX, XT, and NY cultivars (25.95–26.83 days). Microbiota analysis via 16S rRNA sequencing showed that Proteobacteria dominated (>89.96% abundance) across all mite groups, with Wolbachia as the predominant symbiont (89.58–99.19%). Male mites exhibited higher bacterial diversity (Shannon and Chao1 indices) than females, though Wolbachia abundance did not differ significantly between sexes or cultivars. Functional predictions highlighted roles of microbiota in biosynthesis, detoxification, and energy metabolism. These findings underscore the influence of host plant variety on T. urticae fitness and microbiota composition, suggesting potential strategies for breeding resistant strawberry cultivars and leveraging microbial interactions for pest management.
