Displaying publications 21 - 33 of 33 in total

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  1. Yong HS, Song SL, Lim PE, Eamsobhana P, Suana IW
    Genetica, 2016 Oct;144(5):513-521.
    PMID: 27502829
    Zeugodacus caudatus is a pest of pumpkin flowers. It has a Palearctic and Oriental distribution. We report here the complete mitochondrial genome of the Malaysian and Indonesian samples of Z. caudatus determined by next-generation sequencing of genomic DNA and determine their taxonomic status as sibling species and phylogeny with other taxa of the genus Zeugodacus. The whole mitogenome of both samples possessed 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes-PCGs, 2 rRNA and 22 tRNA genes) and a control region. The mitogenome of the Indonesian sample (15,885 bp) was longer than that of the Malaysian sample (15,866 bp). In both samples, TΨC-loop was absent in trnF and DHU-loop was absent in trnS1. Molecular phylogeny based on 13 PCGs was concordant with 15 mitochondrial genes (13 PCGs and 2 rRNA genes), with the two samples of Z. caudatus forming a sister group and the genus Zeugodacus was monophyletic. The Malaysian and Indonesian samples of Z. caudatus have a genetic distance of p = 7.8 % based on 13 PCGs and p = 7.0 % based on 15 mitochondrial genes, indicating status of sibling species. They are proposed to be accorded specific status as members of a species complex.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/classification*; Tephritidae/genetics*
  2. Yong HS, Song SL, Lim PE, Eamsobhana P, Suana IW
    PLoS One, 2016;11(2):e0148201.
    PMID: 26840430 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148201
    Bactrocera latifrons is a serious pest of solanaceous fruits and Bactrocera umbrosa is a pest of Artocarpus fruits, while Bactrocera melastomatos infests the fruit of Melastomataceae. They are members of the subgenus Bactrocera. We report here the complete mitochondrial genome of these fruit flies determined by next-generation sequencing and their phylogeny with other taxa of the subgenus Bactrocera. The whole mitogenomes of these three species possessed 37 genes namely, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA and 22 tRNA genes. The mitogenome of B. latifrons (15,977 bp) was longer than those of B. melastomatos (15,954 bp) and B. umbrosa (15,898 bp). This difference can be attributed to the size of the intergenic spacers (283 bp in B. latifrons, 261 bp in B. melastomatos, and 211 bp in B. umbrosa). Most of the PCGs in the three species have an identical start codon, except for atp8 (adenosine triphosphate synthase protein 8), which had an ATG instead of GTG in B. umbrosa, whilst the nad3 (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3) and nad6 (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6) genes were characterized by an ATC instead of ATT in B. melastomatos. The three species had identical stop codon for the respective PCGs. In B. latifrons and B. melastomatos, the TΨC (thymidine-pseudouridine-cytidine)-loop was absent in trnF (phenylalanine) and DHU (dihydrouracil)-loop was absent in trnS1 (serine S1). In B. umbrosa, trnN (asparagine), trnC (cysteine) and trnF lacked the TψC-loop, while trnS1 lacked the DHU-stem. Molecular phylogeny based on 13 PCGs was in general concordant with 15 mitochondrial genes (13 PCGs and 2 rRNA genes), with B. latifrons and B. umbrosa forming a sister group basal to the other species of the subgenus Bactrocera which was monophyletic. The whole mitogenomes will serve as a useful dataset for studying the genetics, systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the many species of Bactrocera genus in particular, and tephritid fruit flies in general.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/genetics*
  3. Yong HS, Song SL, Chua KO, Lim PE
    Curr Microbiol, 2017 Sep;74(9):1076-1082.
    PMID: 28642971 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-017-1287-x
    Bactrocera carambolae is a highly polyphagous fruit pest of agricultural importance. This study reports the bacterial communities associated with the developmental stages of B. carambolae. The microbiota of the developmental stages were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region) sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq. At 97% similarity, there were 19 bacterial phyla and unassigned bacteria, comprising 39 classes, 86 orders, 159 families and 311 genera. The bacterial composition varied among the specimens of developmental stage and across developmental stages as well as exuviae. Four phyla of bacteria (with relative abundance of ≥1% in at least one specimen)-Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria-were recovered from the larva, pupa, adult stages and exuviae. Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum in all the developmental stages as well as the exuviae. Enterobacteriaceae (Proteobacteria) was the predominant family in the adult flies while the family [Weeksellaceae] (Bacteroidetes) was predominant in the larval and pupal stages. Among the genera occurring in more than one developmental stage of B. carambolae, Erwinia was more abundant in the larval stage, Halomonas more abundant in adult female, Stenotrophomonas more abundant in adult male, and Chryseobacterium more abundant in the larval and pupal stages. The results indicate transmission of bacteria OTUs from immatures to the newly emerged adults, and from exuviae to the environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/growth & development; Tephritidae/microbiology*
  4. Yong HS, Song SL, Lim PE, Eamsobhana P
    PLoS One, 2017;12(12):e0189325.
    PMID: 29216281 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189325
    The tephritid fruit fly Zeugodacus tau (Walker) is a polyphagous fruit pest of economic importance in Asia. Studies based on genetic markers indicate that it forms a species complex. We report here (1) the complete mitogenome of Z. tau from Malaysia and comparison with that of China as well as the mitogenome of other congeners, and (2) the relationship of Z. tau taxa from different geographical regions based on sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. The complete mitogenome of Z. tau had a total length of 15631 bp for the Malaysian specimen (ZT3) and 15835 bp for the China specimen (ZT1), with similar gene order comprising 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes-PCGs, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes) and a non-coding A + T-rich control region (D-loop). Based on 13 PCGs and 15 mt-genes, Z. tau NC_027290 (China) and Z. tau ZT1 (China) formed a sister group in the lineage containing also Z. tau ZT3 (Malaysia). Phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of cox1 gene indicates that the taxa from China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Z. tau sp. A from Thailand belong to Z. tau sensu stricto. A complete cox1 gene (or 13 PCGs or 15 mt-genes) instead of partial sequence is more appropriate for determining phylogenetic relationship.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/classification; Tephritidae/genetics*
  5. Wee SL, Abdul Munir MZ, Hee AKW
    Bull. Entomol. Res., 2018 Feb;108(1):116-124.
    PMID: 28625191 DOI: 10.1017/S0007485317000554
    The Artocarpus fruit fly, Bactrocera umbrosa (Fabricius) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an oligophagous fruit pest infesting Moraceae fruits, including jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamarck), a fruit commodity of high value in Malaysia. The scarcity of fundamental biological, physiological and ecological information on this pest, particularly in relation to behavioural response to phytochemical lures, which are instrumental to the success of many area-wide fruit fly control and management programmes, underpins the need for studies on this much-underrated pest. The positive response of B. umbrosa males to methyl eugenol (ME), a highly potent phytochemical lure, which attracts mainly males of many Bactrocera species, was shown to increase with increasing age. As early as 7 days after emergence (DAE), ca. 22% of males had responded to ME and over 50% by 10 DAE, despite no occurrence of matings (i.e. the males were still sexually immature). Male attraction to ME peaked from 10 to 27 DAE, which corresponded with the flies' attainment of sexual maturity. In wind-tunnel assays during the dusk courtship period, ME-fed males exhibited earlier calling activity and attracted a significantly higher percentage of virgin females compared with ME-deprived males. ME-fed males enjoyed a higher mating success than ME-deprived males at 1-day post ME feeding in semi-field assays. ME consumption also promotes aggregation behaviour in B. umbrosa males, as demonstrated in wind-tunnel and semi-field assays. We suggest that ME plays a prominent role in promoting sexual communication and enhancing mating performance of the Artocarpus fruit fly, a finding that is congruent with previous reports on the consequences of ME acquisition by other economically important Bactrocera species.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/drug effects*
  6. Chieng AC, Hee AK, Wee SL
    J Insect Sci, 2018 Sep 01;18(5).
    PMID: 30351432 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey104
    The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Handel) is one of the most destructive pests of fruits. The discovery of methyl eugenol (ME) as a potent male attractant for this species has led to its successful use in area-wide fruit fly control programs such as male annihilation. While the antenna is recognized as primarily responsible for male flies' detection of attractants such as ME, little is known of the involvement of the maxillary palp. Using behavioral assays involving males with intact and ablated antennae and maxillary palp structures, we seek to ascertain the relative involvement of the maxillary palp in the ability of the male fly to detect ME. In cage bioassays (distance of ≤40 cm from the source), >97% of unmodified males will normally show a response to ME. Here, we showed that 17.6% of males with their antennae ablated were still attracted to ME versus 75.0% of males with their palps ablated. However, none of the antennae-ablated males were able to detect ME over a distance of >100 cm. Furthermore, wind tunnel bioassays showed that maxillary palp-ablated males took a significantly longer time compared to unablated males to successfully detect and eventually feed on ME. These results suggest that although the antennae are necessary for detection of ME over longer distances, at shorter distances, both antennae and maxillary palps are also involved in detecting ME. Hence, those palps may play a larger role than previously recognized in maneuvering males toward lure sources over shorter ranges.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/metabolism*
  7. Yong HS, Song SL, Eamsobhana P, Pasartvit A, Lim PE
    Mol Biol Rep, 2019 Aug;46(4):3765-3776.
    PMID: 31012029 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04818-3
    Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillet) is one of the most significant and widespread tephritid pest species of agricultural crops. This study reports the bacterial communities associated with Z. cucurbitae from three geographical regions in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Sarawak). The bacterial microbiota were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region) sequencing using the Illumina Mi-Seq platform. At 97% similarity and filtering at 0.001%, there were seven bacterial phyla and unassigned bacteria, comprising 11 classes, 23 orders, 39 families and 67 genera. The bacterial diversity and richness varied within and among the samples from the three geographical regions. Five phyla were detected for the Sarawak sample, and six each for the Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia samples. Four phyla-Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria-were represented in all the fruit fly specimens, forming the core members of the bacterial community. Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Fifty-three genera were represented in the Thailand sample, 56 in the Peninsular Malaysia sample, and 55 in the Sarawak sample. Forty-two genera were present in all the three geographical regions. The predominant core members were order Enterobacteriales (Proeteobacteria), and family Enterobacteriaceae (Enterobacteriales). Klebsiella (Enterobacteriaceae) was the predominant genus and K. oxytoca the predominant species with all specimens having > 10% relative abundance. The results indicate the presence of a great diversity as well as core members of the bacterial community associated with different populations of Z. cucurbitae.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/microbiology*
  8. Shamshir RA, Wee SL
    J Insect Physiol, 2019 09 26;119:103949.
    PMID: 31563620 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103949
    Certain male fruit flies from the genera Bactrocera and Zeugodacus (Diptera: Tephritidae) actively forage for floral semiochemicals produced by some endemic Bulbophyllum orchids found in tropical and subtropical forests. These floral semiochemicals are largely classified as either phenylbutanoids (e.g., raspberry ketone (RK)) or phenylpropanoids (e.g., methyl eugenol (ME)). Zingerone (ZN) is a phenylbutanoid recently found that structurally resembles ME and RK, both of which are phytochemicals commonly used as male attractants in fruit fly control programmes. It was previously shown that feeding on ME and RK increased the mating success of certain tephritid fruit flies, specifically in B. dorsalis and B. tryoni males, respectively, through enhancement of sexual signaling. However, ZN, which acts as a metabolic enhancer to increase male courtship activity in B. tryoni, did not show the same effect. As fruit fly-phytochemical lure interactions are unique and species-specific phenomena, this study seeks to elucidate the ecological significance of ZN feeding to Zeugodacus tau in terms of sexual signaling. We demonstrate here that ZN feeding by Z. tau males enhanced female attraction and subsequent mating success by increasing male courtship, and the attractiveness of the sexual signals in both wind tunnel and semi-field cage bioassays. In addition, we also demonstrated temporal effects on male behaviour in relation to the amount of lure intake. However, feeding on ZN did not appear to affect the total time spent in copula for Z. tau. This is the first report showing an important role of ZN in increasing courtship activity as well as enhancement of sexual signaling in Z. tau males.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/drug effects*
  9. Yusof S, Mohamad Dzomir AZ, Yaakop S
    J Econ Entomol, 2019 12 09;112(6):2808-2816.
    PMID: 31393572 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toz217
    The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on survivability (adult emergence, sex ratio, adult longevity), fecundity (eggs hatchability, number of eggs produced), and morphological differences in the size of the ovary and testes of unirradiated and irradiated adults of Oriental fruit fly [Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)]. A dose of 100 Gy was determined as the minimum needed for inhibitory effects against B. dorsalis that would not deter adult emergence, sex ratio (male:female), and adult longevity, with 82.6 ±7.02, 1:1.09, and 107 ± 24.5, respectively. Doses from 50 to 400 Gy range did not completely prevent the adult emergence; however, the emergence decreased by increasing the radiation dose. Adult survivability significantly decreased among all the treatment groups of B. dorsalis, except for the 50 Gy and unirradiated flies. At a dose of 50 Gy, fertile females showed a significant reduction in fecundity by not producing eggs after mating with the sterile males. Meanwhile, the number of eggs laid decreased with increasing dose and no fertile egg was hatched starting at 100 Gy of irradiation. Testes and ovaries of 20-d old flies irradiated as pupae were smaller than those of control flies. In this study, 100 Gy was concluded as the minimum effective dose for the disinfestation and sterilization of B. dorsalis puparia. Results represent new findings used as a basis for sterile insect technique and quarantine programs for managing B. dorsalis, particularly in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae*
  10. Royer JE, Tan KH, Mayer DG
    Environ Entomol, 2020 08 20;49(4):815-822.
    PMID: 32514581 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa056
    The male fruit fly attractants, cue-lure (CL) and raspberry ketone (RK), are important in pest management. These volatile phenylbutanoids occur in daciniphilous Bulbophyllum Thouar (Orchidaceae: Asparagales) orchids, along with zingerone (ZN) and anisyl acetone (AA). While these four compounds attract a similar range of species, their relative attractiveness to multiple species is unknown. We field tested these compounds in two fruit fly speciose locations in north Queensland, Australia (Lockhart and Cairns) for 8 wk. Of 16 species trapped in significant numbers, 14 were trapped with CL and RK, all in significantly greater numbers with CL traps than RK traps (at least in higher population locations). This included the pest species Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (CL catches ca. 5× > RK), Bactrocera neohumeralis (Hardy) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Bactrocera bryoniae (Tryon) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (CL catches ca. 3× > RK), and Bactrocera frauenfeldi (Schiner) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (in Cairns-CL catches ca. 1.6× > RK). Seven species were trapped with AA, and all were also caught in CL and RK traps in significantly greater numbers, with the exception of B. frauenfeldi. For this species, catches were not statistically different with CL, RK, and AA in Lockhart, and RK and AA in Cairns. Seven species were trapped with ZN, two at this lure only, and the remainder also with CL or RK but in significantly greater numbers. This is the first quantitative comparison of the relative attractiveness of CL, RK, AA, and ZN against multiple species, and supports the long-held but untested assumption that CL is broadly more attractive lure than RK.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae*
  11. Wee SL, Clarke AR
    Sci Rep, 2020 09 14;10(1):15004.
    PMID: 32929156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72209-x
    Males of certain Dacini fruit flies are strongly attracted to, and feed upon, plant secondary compounds such as methyl eugenol, raspberry ketone and zingerone. The consumed lure is generally found to induce physiological and behavioural changes that enhance the mating performance of lure-fed males. Male Bactrocera jarvisi respond strongly to zingerone from a young age, but only weakly respond to raspberry ketone. We hypothesized that this selective lure-response would be reflected in the physiological importance of the lure to the fly. We found that zingerone feeding by young males resulted in significantly greater mating success in competitive mating trials with lure-deprived flies, but the mating advantage was lost in older males. Lure dosage had a significant effect on the duration of the mating advantage, for example when fed 20 µg of zingerone, the advantage lasted only 1 day post-feeding, but when fed of 50 µg zingerone the advantage lasted 7 days. Raspberry ketone feeding did not confer any mating advantage to males except at one dosage (50 µg) for 1 day after feeding. When given a choice, B. jarvisi females preferred to mate with zingerone-fed versus to raspberry ketone-fed males. This study revealed lure, dosage and age of fly at time of lure administration are all important factors for maximising lure-enhanced fruit fly mating performance. These findings contribute to a better theoretical understanding of the evolution of fruit fly-lure interactions and may help improve fruit fly pest management via the Sterile Insect Technique through semiochemical-mediated enhancement of sterile male mating performance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/physiology*
  12. Yang MJ, Liu JH, Wan XS, Zhang QL, Fu DY, Wang XB, et al.
    Mitochondrial DNA B Resour, 2020 Oct 27;5(3):3638-3639.
    PMID: 33367040 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1831984
    The black-winged fly, Felderimyia fuscipennis (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an insect pest of bamboo shoot, mainly distributed in Thailand, Malaysia and Yunnan Province and Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. The complete sequence of the mitogenome of F. fuscipennis has been determined in this study. The whole mitogenome sequence is 16,536 bp in length, which totally contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a non-coding region (putative control region, CR). The phylogeny indicates that F. fuscipennis of subfamily Trypetinae was monophyletic and clearly separated from both Dacinae and Tephritinae with high bootstrap value supported.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae
  13. Yong HS, Chua KO, Song SL, Liew YJ, Eamsobhana P, Chan KG
    Mol Biol Rep, 2021 Aug;48(8):6047-6056.
    PMID: 34357549 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06608-2
    BACKGROUND: Tephritid fruit flies of the genus Dacus are members of the tribe Dacini, subfamily Dacinae. There are some 274 species worldwide, distributed in Africa and the Asia-Pacific. To date, only five complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of Dacus fruit flies have been published and are available in the GenBank.

    METHODS AND RESULTS: In view of the lack of study on their mitogenome, we sequenced (by next generation sequencing) and annotated the complete mitogenome of D. vijaysegarani from Malaysia to determine its features and phylogenetic relationship. The whole mitogenome of D. vijaysegarani has identical gene order with the published mitogenomes of the genus Dacus, with 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNAs, a non-coding A + T rich control region, and intergenic spacer and overlap sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on 15 mitochondrial genes (13 PCGs and two rRNA genes), reveals Dacus, Zeugodacus and Bactrocera forming a distinct clade. The genus Dacus forms a monophyletic group in the subclade containing also the Zeugodacus group; this Dacus-Zeugodacus subclade is distinct from the Bactrocera subclade. D. (Mellesis) vijaysegarani forms a lineage with D. (Mellesis) trimacula in the subcluster containing also the lineage of D. (Mellesis) conopsoides and D. (Callantra) longicornis. D. (Dacus) bivittatus and D. (Didacus) ciliatus form a distinct subcluster. Based on cox1 sequences, the Malaysia and Vietnam taxa of D. vijaysegarani may not be conspecific.

    CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the mitochondrial genome of D. vijaysegarani provided essential molecular data that could be useful for further studies for species diagnosis, evolution and phylogeny research of other tephritid fruit flies in the future.

    Matched MeSH terms: Tephritidae/genetics*
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