Co-Existence and Niche Separation of Two Subspecies of Photorhabdus Temperata Associated with Heterorhabditis Downesi in a Dune Grassland
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Co-existence and niche separation of two subspecies of Photorhabdus temperata associated with Heterorhabditis downesi in a dune grassland A thesis submitted to the National University of Ireland, Maynooth for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Abigail M. D. Maher, B.Sc Supervisor: Dr Christine T. Griffin Head of Department: Prof. Paul Moynagh October 2014 Declaration This thesis has not been submitted in whole or in part to this or any other university for any other degree and is, except where otherwise stated, the original work of the author. Signed: ____Abigail M.D. Maher___________ Date: ___29-10-2014___________ Contents Acknowledgement ...................................................................................................... i Abbreviations ............................................................................................................ ii Abstract .................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1 General Introduction ............................................................................ 1 1.1 Symbiosis ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Entomopathogenic nematode symbiosis .......................................................... 4 1.2.1 Life cycle .................................................................................................. 4 1.2.2 Benefits of Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus for Heterorhabditis and Steinernema ....................................................................................................... 7 1.2.3 Benefits of Heterorhabditis and Steinernema for Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus .................................................................................................... 11 1.2.4 EPN Diversity ......................................................................................... 15 1.2.5 Association of Heterorhabditis with Photorhabdus ................................ 23 1.2.6 Specificity of the nematode-bacteria symbiosis ...................................... 26 1.2.7 Colonisation ............................................................................................ 27 1.3 Ecology and use of EPN in biocontrol ........................................................... 28 1.4 Distribution .................................................................................................... 33 1.5 North Bull Island ........................................................................................... 34 1.6 Aims of the project ........................................................................................ 39 Chapter 2 Recovery of Heterorhabditis downesi from North Bull Island and characterisation of their bacterial symbiont ............................................................. 41 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 41 2.2 Materials and Methods .................................................................................. 44 2.2.1 Detection of nematodes on North Bull Island ......................................... 44 2.2.2 Nematode identification .......................................................................... 52 2.2.3 Symbiotic bacteria characterisation ........................................................ 61 2.2.4 Phylogenetic analysis of symbiotic bacteria ............................................ 69 2.2.5 Statistical analysis ................................................................................... 74 2.3 Results ........................................................................................................... 75 2.3.1 Entomopathogenic nematodes on North Bull Island ............................... 75 2.3.2 Phylogenetic analysis of the nematode ITS1 region ................................ 86 2.3.3 Phenotypic characterisation of symbiotic bacteria .................................. 89 2.3.4 Phylogenetic analysis of symbiotic bacteria .......................................... 100 2.4 Discussion ................................................................................................... 104 Chapter 3 Cross compatibility of Heterorhabditis downesi – Photorhabdus temperata ......................................................................................................... 118 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 118 3.2 Materials and Methods ................................................................................ 122 3.2.1 Cross-compatibility of Heterorhabditis downesi – Photorhabdus temperata strains ........................................................................................... 122 3.2.2 Bacteria carried by emerging infective juveniles .................................. 128 3.2.3 Tests of hybrid nematode/bacteria strains against G. mellonella ........... 130 3.2.4 Survival of IJs in water ......................................................................... 132 3.2.5 Bacterial quantification from individual infective juveniles .................. 133 3.2.6 Statistical analysis ................................................................................. 133 3.3 Results ......................................................................................................... 134 3.3.1 Cross-compatibility of Heterorhabditis downesi – Photorhabdus temperata strains ............................................................................................................ 134 3.3.2 Bacteria carried by emerging infective juveniles .................................. 155 3.3.3 Tests of wild type and hybrid nematode/bacteria strains against G. mellonella ...................................................................................................... 162 3.3.4 Survival of IJs in water ......................................................................... 165 3.3.5 Bacterial quantification from individual infective juveniles .................. 167 3.4 Discussion ................................................................................................... 171 Chapter 4 Infectivity and development of Heterorhabditis downesi associated with two subspecies of Photorhabdus against a range of hosts .............................. 185 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 185 4.2 Materials and Methods ................................................................................ 188 4.2.1 Tests of wild type and hybrid combinations against G. mellonella (infectivity and infective juvenile yields) ....................................................... 188 4.2.2 Tests of wild type and hybrid combinations against Hylobius abietis (infectivity and infective juvenile yields) ....................................................... 188 4.2.3 Tests of PUR and YEL isolates against G. mellonella (infectivity and infective juvenile yields) ................................................................................ 190 4.2.4 Tests of PUR and YEL isolates against H. abietis (infectivity and infective juvenile yields) .............................................................................................. 191 4.2.5 Tests of PUR and YEL isolates against T. molitor (infectivity) ............ 192 4.2.6 Tests of PUR and YEL isolates against Kelp fly (Infectivity and infective juvenile yields) .............................................................................................. 192 4.2.7 Statistical analysis ................................................................................. 194 4.3 Results ......................................................................................................... 195 4.3.1 Tests of wild type and hybrid combinations against G. mellonella ....... 195 4.3.2 Virulence of wild type and hybrid combinations against H. abietis ...... 198 4.3.3 Test of PUR and YEL isolates against G. mellonella ............................ 202 4.3.4 Test of PUR and YEL isolates against H. abietis .................................. 207 4.3.5 Host infectivity – T. molitor .................................................................. 210 4.3.6 Host infectivity – Kelp fly .................................................................... 211 4.4 Discussion ................................................................................................... 216 Chapter 5 Effect of host desiccation on IJ survival and emergence .................. 220 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 220 5.2 Materials and Methods ................................................................................ 223 5.2.1 Desiccation in sand ............................................................................... 226 5.2.2 Desiccation at 0% relative humidity ..................................................... 229 5.2.3 Statistical analysis ................................................................................. 231 5.3 Results ......................................................................................................... 231 5.3.1 l Nematode survival in cadavers stored at a range of moisture levels (experiment 1) ............................................................................................... 231 5.3.2 Emergence of infective juveniles