Wolbachia detection was also performed on some arthropods and nematodes in
the Khuzestan province (Pourali et al. 2009). Out of a total of 770 arthropods (of 22
genera) and 41 nematodes (of six genera), 167 samples of arthropods and one
nematode sample were positive. All samples positive tested for Wolbachia by 16S
gene sequencing were placed in the A supergroup.
Poorjavad et al. (2012), identified seven populations of Trichogramma species
based on PCR-RFLP of ITS2 gene. Those species included T. brassicae Bezdenko,
T. cacoeciae Marchal, T. embryophagum Hartig, T. evanescens Westwood,
T. euroctidis Giraults, T. pintori Voegele, and T. tshumakovae Sorokina. After
identification, infection status of wasps with Wolbachia was surveyed. Among
positive population of Trichogramma, a single strain of Wolbachia was detected
by using MLST in two populations of T. brassicae. This strain was classified into the
B supergroup. Following this study, a field survey of native Trichogramma species
was carried out in six provinces including Razavi Khorasan, Tehran, Mazandaran,
Guilan, Golestan, and Qom. Based on ITS2 sequence, 14 populations were identified
as the species T. embryophagum, T. evanescens, and T. brassicae. Wolbachia
infection in these Trichogrammatids was detected using wsp gene sequence analysis.
The highest infection rate of Wolbachia was found in T. evanescens from
Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. The Wolbachia strain observed in those
species were from the A and B supergroups. In T. evanescens, two populations of
parasitic wasp were infected with a single strain from the sib subgroup and one
population had a superinfection (Karimi et al. 2012). In another study, Darsouei et al.
(2013) investigated the recombination rate in 19 populations of infected
Trichogramma. Among them, eight strains of Wolbachia were characterized; within
these six strains belonged to subgroup Kue from A supergroup. The two remaining
strains were related to the B supergroup and Sib subgroup. Double infection and
superinfection were observed in Trichogramma populations. Among three species,
T. embryophagum, T. brassicae and T. evanescens, the highest prevalence of
Wolbachia infection was observed in T. brassicae with 57% of sampled populations
infected.
Previously, Farrokhi et al. (2008) confirmed that a population of T. brassicae
form Baboulsar is infected with Wolbachia. Following this result, Farrokhi et al.
(2013) evaluated the effect of Wolbachia on olfactory responses and parasitism rate
of T. brassicae in laboratory conditions. In this study, a series of experiments were
conducted to compare the behavioral aspects, dispersal potential, and parasitism of
thelytokous (BW+) and bisexual (B) T. brassicae strains (Baboulsar ecotype). There
was no significant behavioral difference between these two lines. The number of egg
parasitized by BW+ and B was 6.01 and 2.88, respectively. Thus, infected
Wolbachia lines of Baboulsar ecotype had a higher potential for parasitism than
non-infected Wolbachia lines.
Wolbachia can affect the mtDNA diversity of its host. Darsouei and Karimi
(2013), surveyed the effect of Wolbachia on the genetic diversity of its host. Samples
were taken from 37 populations of Trichogrammatid wasps in different areas of Iran,
characterized and checked for prevalence of Wolbachia infection. Subsequently, the
effects of Wolbachia infection on mtDNA variation, number of haplotypes,
520
M. Mehrabadi et al.
the Khuzestan province (Pourali et al. 2009). Out of a total of 770 arthropods (of 22
genera) and 41 nematodes (of six genera), 167 samples of arthropods and one
nematode sample were positive. All samples positive tested for Wolbachia by 16S
gene sequencing were placed in the A supergroup.
Poorjavad et al. (2012), identified seven populations of Trichogramma species
based on PCR-RFLP of ITS2 gene. Those species included T. brassicae Bezdenko,
T. cacoeciae Marchal, T. embryophagum Hartig, T. evanescens Westwood,
T. euroctidis Giraults, T. pintori Voegele, and T. tshumakovae Sorokina. After
identification, infection status of wasps with Wolbachia was surveyed. Among
positive population of Trichogramma, a single strain of Wolbachia was detected
by using MLST in two populations of T. brassicae. This strain was classified into the
B supergroup. Following this study, a field survey of native Trichogramma species
was carried out in six provinces including Razavi Khorasan, Tehran, Mazandaran,
Guilan, Golestan, and Qom. Based on ITS2 sequence, 14 populations were identified
as the species T. embryophagum, T. evanescens, and T. brassicae. Wolbachia
infection in these Trichogrammatids was detected using wsp gene sequence analysis.
The highest infection rate of Wolbachia was found in T. evanescens from
Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. The Wolbachia strain observed in those
species were from the A and B supergroups. In T. evanescens, two populations of
parasitic wasp were infected with a single strain from the sib subgroup and one
population had a superinfection (Karimi et al. 2012). In another study, Darsouei et al.
(2013) investigated the recombination rate in 19 populations of infected
Trichogramma. Among them, eight strains of Wolbachia were characterized; within
these six strains belonged to subgroup Kue from A supergroup. The two remaining
strains were related to the B supergroup and Sib subgroup. Double infection and
superinfection were observed in Trichogramma populations. Among three species,
T. embryophagum, T. brassicae and T. evanescens, the highest prevalence of
Wolbachia infection was observed in T. brassicae with 57% of sampled populations
infected.
Previously, Farrokhi et al. (2008) confirmed that a population of T. brassicae
form Baboulsar is infected with Wolbachia. Following this result, Farrokhi et al.
(2013) evaluated the effect of Wolbachia on olfactory responses and parasitism rate
of T. brassicae in laboratory conditions. In this study, a series of experiments were
conducted to compare the behavioral aspects, dispersal potential, and parasitism of
thelytokous (BW+) and bisexual (B) T. brassicae strains (Baboulsar ecotype). There
was no significant behavioral difference between these two lines. The number of egg
parasitized by BW+ and B was 6.01 and 2.88, respectively. Thus, infected
Wolbachia lines of Baboulsar ecotype had a higher potential for parasitism than
non-infected Wolbachia lines.
Wolbachia can affect the mtDNA diversity of its host. Darsouei and Karimi
(2013), surveyed the effect of Wolbachia on the genetic diversity of its host. Samples
were taken from 37 populations of Trichogrammatid wasps in different areas of Iran,
characterized and checked for prevalence of Wolbachia infection. Subsequently, the
effects of Wolbachia infection on mtDNA variation, number of haplotypes,
520
M. Mehrabadi et al.