Issue Date

10-2017

Abstract

The primary endosymbionts associated with coconut scale insects (CSI), Aspidiotus rigidus and A. destructor, were detected using the 16S rRNA. Sequences of this gene were sourced from A. destructor and A. rigidus populations from different geographical locations namely, Orani, Bataan; Cagbalate 1 and Cagbalete 2, Mauban, Quezon; Sampaloc, Quezon; and Tranca, Bay, Laguna. Results revealed variation between the primary endosymbiont associated with the Aspidiotus species, but not among the primary endosymbionts associated within each CSI species. GenBank mining using BLAST revealed 98% to 99% similarity of the endosymbionts of A. destructor and A. rigidus, respectively, with Candidatus Uzinura diaspidicola (GenBank Acc. No. DQ868800.1), - the identified primary bacterial endosymbiont 16S rRNA gene comparison, inferred that the U. diaspidicola of the two CSI species were entirely different and thus, could serve as a target in designing sound management strategies against these economically important pests. With the various vital roles of endosymbionts in their host ecology and evolution, more in-depth studies on U. diaspidicola could definitely help understand the mechanism of relative higher invasiveness of A. rigidus over A. destructor in coconut. Moreover, our results suggest that, with the difficulties encountered through conventional techniques of species identification, molecular-based approach such as utilization of 16S rRNA gene of an endosymbiont could be an efficient additional tool for a more accurate and faster identification of scale insect species.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

31

Issue

2

Page

117-127

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

illustrations

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

ASPIDIOTUS, COCCODEA, DIASPIDIDAE, GENETIC MARKERS, INSECT CONTROL, NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE AND RNA, NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE, IDENTIFICATION

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