Deleterious effects of the endosymbiont Rickettsiella viridis in Myzus persicae are environmentally dependent

Abstract

Endosymbionts living within insect cells can modify host fitness and could provide new tools for pest control. The endosymbiont Rickettsiella viridis has been transferred experimentally into the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, a globally important agricultural pest. This Rickettsiella spreads via vertical and horizontal transmission and induces host fitness costs which could potentially suppress pest populations. Endosymbiont prevalence can fluctuate in natural populations, and it is important to identify factors that contribute to their spread or loss. Here, we explore the effects of Rickettsiella infection when aphids are reared on eight different host plants or exposed to thermal, star..