Yeasts associated with bark beetles of the genus Dendroctonus erichson (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae): Molecular identification and biochemical characterization

Abstract

The bark beetles (Scolytinae) increase their potential to colonize their hosts by associating symbiotically with microorganisms, particularly fungi, which are carried on specialized structures called mycangium (Harrington 1993; Klepzig 2001; Paine and others 1997;Six 2003; Whitney 1982). Additionally, there is experimental evidence that some yeasts and bacteria from the alimentary canal of these insects might be involved in digestion and detoxification processes and pheromone production. The latter are compounds fundamental to the chemical communication of these insects (Borden 1982;Harrington 1993; Paine and others1997). The role of bark beetles-associated yeast cannot be studied if we do not know their diversity and location. Yeasts taxonomic identification have been commonly performed on morphological characters of vegetative and sexual stages as well as by physiological tests; however, the variable responses of yeasts to the physiological tests and their phenotypic plasticity have hindered their taxonomic identification.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings from the Third Workshop on Genetics of Bark Beetles and Associated Microorganisms

Citation

Rivera, Flor N.; Gómez, Zulema; González, Evelyn; López, Nydia; Rodríguez, César H. Hernández; Zúñiga, Gerardo. 2007. Yeasts associated with bark beetles of the genus Dendroctonus erichson (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae): Molecular identification and biochemical characterization. In: Bentz, Barbara; Cognato, Anthony; Raffa, Kenneth, eds. Proceedings from the Third Workshop on Genetics of Bark Beetles and Associated Microorganisms. Proc. RMRS-P-45. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 45-48