Molecular characterization and first report of Wolbachia strains of the European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in populations from Argentina

Abstract

The grapevine moth Lobesia botranais a major pest of vineyards worldwide. Chemicalinsecticides and the sexual confusion technique areused to reduce damage. Several biological controlapproaches are being studied, including the use ofthe obligate intracellular bacteria Wolbachia, however,this method has been little explored. To use thisbacterium for pest control it is necessary to know ifthe target pest is infected. The aim of this study wasto examine Wolbachia infection in L. botrana populationsfrom different vine growing areas of SanJuan, Argentina. Lobesia botrana were captured invineyards using sticky traps with pheromones. Wolbachiainfection was diagnosed using a specificPCR test and fully characterized using Multi-LocusSequence Typing (MLST) analyses. All populationstested were positive for Wolbachia, representing thefirst record of Wolbachia strains in grapevine mothsfrom Argentina. The MLST analyses showed thatWolbachia strain belongs to supergroup B, clusteringwith other Wolbachia moth strains. More researchis needed to understand the relationship between thegrapevine moth and Wolbachia and how to use this tomanage pests.