Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Insect Science
Acute heat and sublethal imidacloprid exposure interacted to reduce male fruit flies’ reproductive success more than either stressor alone in some conditions. Stress experienced by fathers also reduced offspring fertility, while a more diverse gut microbiome partly lessened the effects on males.
Wolbachia infection allowed two genetically altered yeast strains that normally require added riboflavin, or vitamin B2, to grow without it. The infected strains also had a mild survival advantage when exposed to high salt or hydrogen peroxide, offering a model for studying interactions between hosts and internal bacteria.
A genetically modified gut bacterium killed up to 100% of Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars in laboratory tests, and all larvae exposed to treated leaves died within eight days. The bacterium also colonized caterpillar guts and tomato leaves, but its persistence, spread and safety in field conditions have not been tested.
