Nectar-dwelling microbes of common tansy are attractive to its mosquito pollinator, Culex pipiens L. 2021

D A H Peach, and C Carroll, and S Meraj, and S Gomes, and E Galloway, and A Balcita, and H Coatsworth, and N Young, and Y Uriel, and R Gries, and C Lowenberger, and M Moore, and G Gries
Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada. dan@danpeach.net.

There is widespread interkingdom signalling between insects and microbes. For example, microbes found in floral nectar may modify its nutritional composition and produce odorants that alter the floral odor bouquet which may attract insect pollinators. Mosquitoes consume nectar and can pollinate flowers. We identified microbes isolated from nectar of common tansy, Tanacetum vulgare, elucidated the microbial odorants, and tested their ability to attract the common house mosquito, Culex pipiens. We collected 19 microbial isolates from T. vulgare nectar, representing at least 12 different taxa which we identified with 16S or 26S rDNA sequencing as well as by biochemical and physiological tests. Three microorganisms (Lachancea thermotolerans, Micrococcus lactis, Micrococcus luteus) were grown on culture medium and tested in bioassays. Only the yeast L. thermotolerans grown on nectar, malt extract agar, or in synthetic nectar broth significantly attracted Cx. pipiens females. The odorant profile produced by L. thermotolerans varied with the nutritional composition of the culture medium. All three microbes grown separately, but presented concurrently, attracted fewer Cx. pipiens females than L. thermotolerans by itself. Floral nectar of T. vulgare contains various microbes whose odorants contribute to the odor profile of inflorescences. In addition, L. thermotolerans produced odorants that attract Cx. pipiens females. As the odor profile of L. thermotolerans varied with the composition of the culture medium, we hypothesize that microbe odorants inform nectar-foraging mosquitoes about the availability of certain macro-nutrients which, in turn, affect foraging decisions by mosquitoes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008835 Micrococcaceae A family of bacteria ranging from free living and saprophytic to parasitic and pathogenic forms.
D009033 Culicidae A family of the order DIPTERA that comprises the mosquitoes. The larval stages are aquatic, and the adults can be recognized by the characteristic WINGS, ANIMAL venation, the scales along the wing veins, and the long proboscis. Many species are of particular medical importance. Mosquitoes,Mosquitos,Mosquito
D003465 Culex A genus of mosquitoes (CULICIDAE) commonly found in tropical regions. Species of this genus are vectors for ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS as well as many other diseases of man and domestic and wild animals. Culices
D004718 Saccharomycetales An order of fungi in the phylum Ascomycota that multiply by budding. They include the telomorphic ascomycetous yeasts which are found in a very wide range of habitats. Budding Yeast,Endomycetales,Endomycopsis,Yeast, Budding,Budding Yeasts,Endomycetale,Endomycopses,Saccharomycetale,Yeasts, Budding
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D057048 Plant Nectar Sugar-rich liquid produced in plant glands called nectaries. It is either produced in flowers or other plant structures (extrafloral nectaries), providing a source of attraction for pollinating insects and animals, as well as being a nutrient source to animal mutualists which provide protection of plants against herbivores. Extrafloral Nectar,Nectar,Nectar, Extrafloral,Nectar, Plant
D031203 Tanacetum A plant genus of the family ASTERACEAE. Some species of the CHRYSANTHEMUM and the old Pyrethrum genera have been reclassified to this genus. The common name of tansy usually refers to this but also forms part of the common name of other plants such as Tansy Ragwort (SENECIO) and Tansyaster (HAPLOPAPPUS). Tanacetum vulgare,Tansy,Tanacetum vulgares,Tanacetums,Tansies,vulgares, Tanacetum

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