Fig. 6From: Soil-derived bacteria endow Camellia weevil with more ability to resist plant chemical defenseExperimental analysis showing that Acinetobacter sp. AS23 from soil mediates the adaptation of CWs to tea saponin toxicity. To further investigate the saponin-degrading functions of AS23, PBBR-GFP plasmid was transferred into the strain as described by Zhang et al. [52]. a Schematic showing the treatment of CW larvae in the experiment. Antibiotic treatment: gentamicin sulfate, tetracyclines, and rifampin. CK treatment: sterile water. SS treatment: larvae near pupation were raised in sterilized soil. US treatment: larvae near pupation were raised in unsterilized soil. SSA treatment: larvae near pupation were raised in sterilized soil mixed with fluorescently labeled Acinetobacter sp. AS23 cells. b CW adults were released on C. oleifera trees, and the fruits were regularly collected to evaluate larvae development. c, d Green fluorescent imaging of AS23 cells (Acinetobacter sp. AS23) in the guts of collected larvae and fluorescence imaging of guts. e, f Fluorescent imaging of guts uninfected with fluorescently labeled Acinetobacter sp. strain 23. g Comparison of larval weights from individuals obtained at different sampling time. h Analysis of larval weight changes from individuals collected at different sampling time. Data were normally distributed, and ANOVA analysis was performed using Prism GraphPad. A p value threshold of significance was identified as p < 0.05Back to article page