Effects of Exposure Time and Biological State on Acquisition and Accumulation of Erwinia amylovora by Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

A recent hypothesis proposed that dissemination of Erwinia amylovora from ooze by flies to native rosaceous trees was likely key to the life cycle of the bacterium during its evolution. Our study validates an important component of this hypothesis by showing that flies are capable of acquiring and transmitting this bacterium from ooze under various biotic conditions. Understanding how dipterans interact with ooze advances our current knowledge of its epidemiological function and provides strong evidence for an underappreciated role of flies in the disease cycle. These findings may be especially important as they pertain to shoot blight, because this stage of the disease is poorly understood and may involve a significant amount of insect activity. Broadly, this study underscores a need to consider the depth, breadth, and origin of interactions between flies and E. amylovora to better understand its epidemiology.