Edaphic mites: diversity, relationship with the microbiota and ecology in natural and agricultural areas in Brazil, with elaboration of databases and keys to identify selected groups

• Grant number: 18/24768-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Gilberto José de Moraes
• Grantee: Bruna Laís Merlin
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/12004-1 - Edaphic mites: diversity, relationship with the microbiota and ecology in natural and cultivated areas in Brazil, with the preparation of databases and keys to identify selected groups, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Biological adaptation and speciation processes are widely influenced by the existence of associations with microorganisms. In arthropods, studies of the associated microbiota have demonstrated the existence of specific association patterns of bacteria to different groups of insects, demonstrating the effects of phylogeny, food habit and host ecology on the microbiota community. In many cases, host - bacteria associations are responsible for insects adaptation to poor nutritional sources in essential nutrients or food sources that are difficult to digest, but these studies are RARE IN MITES. Some of the microorganisms associated with arthropods can interfere with the reproduction system and sex determination of their hosts, and may lead to reproductive isolation, population adaptation and species differentiation. Thus, the association with microorganisms gains practical relevance when the effects on host biotic potential are taken into account, especially in cases in which mite species associated with these bacteria are selected as applied biological control agents. The use of Mesostigmata predatory mites in Brazil has been increasing and its success depends essentially on reliable basic research, such as that aimed at determining the associated microbiota and the microbiota role in the biological fitness of predatory mites. Thus, this project is aimed at the providing information on the microbiota diversity of Mesostigmata mites from different biomes, as well as at the determination of the occurrence and frequency of mite associations with sex distorting bacteria, and the determination of their effect on the biological potential of selected predatory mite species as biological control agents. These studies will enable to advance in our knowledge on the biology of Mesostigmata predatory species, as well as support the development of new approaches to solve difficulties in the mass rearing process.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MERLIN, B. R. U. N. A. L.; CASTILHO, R. A. P. H. A. E. L. C.; DE MORAES, GILBERTO J.. A new species of Lasioseius (Acari: Blattisociidae) from Brazil with morphological and DNA barcode data. Zootaxa, v. 5032, n. 4, p. 583-599, SEP 9 2021. (18/24768-9, 17/12004-1)

MERLIN, BRUNA LAIS; MORAES, GILBERTO J.; CONSOLI, FERNANDO L.. The Microbiota of a Mite Prey-Predator System on Different Host Plants Are Characterized by Dysbiosis and Potential Functional Redundancy. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 18-pg., 2022-05-11. (18/24768-9, 17/12004-1)

BENTO, FLAVIA MOURA MANOEL; DAROLT, JOSIANE CECILIA; MERLIN, BRUNA LAIS; PENA, LEANDRO; WULFF, NELSON ARNO; CONSOLI, FERNANDO LUIS. The molecular interplay of the establishment of an infection - gene expression of Diaphorina citri gut and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. BMC Genomics, v. 22, n. 1, SEP 21 2021. (15/07011-3, 18/24768-9, 18/24234-4)

MERLIN, BRUNA L.; FERREIRA, LUCIA P.; GODOY, WESLEY A. C.; MORAES, GILBERTO J.; CONSOLI, FERNANDO L.. Functional response of Neoseiulus californicus preying on Tetranychus urticae is affected by prey quality and host-plant acclimation. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, v. 165, FEB 2022. (17/12004-1, 19/20689-0, 18/24768-9)