Abstract
The gut microbiota can profoundly influence host behavior, yet underlying mechanisms for microbiota-driven behavioral adaptation remain elusive. We previously observed that female Plagiodera versicolora leaf beetles preferentially oviposit on mature leaves despite feeding on new leaves. Here, we demonstrate that this oviposition preference is gut microbiota-dependent, as it is abolished by microbiota depletion and restored by microbiota transplantation. Gut Pseudomonas putida emerges as the key driver, with its abundance positively correlating with mature-leaf preference. Further investigation reveals that beetle feeding induces elevated indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels, promoting bacterial translocation from feeding sites to new leaves. This colonization facilitates bacterial dissemination while reducing F1 fitness during larval feeding. Comparative transcriptomics implicates the takeout gene (TO1) in regulating oviposition preference, and TO1 knockdown abolishes this behavior. Moreover, P. putida supplementation restores TO1 expression and mature-leaf preference in germ-free females. These findings reveal an insect–microbe–plant feedback loop driving microbiota-associated behavioral adaptation.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Jianyang Bai (Anhui Agricultural University), Qian Zhao (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), and Weilong Kong (Huazhong Agricultural University) for their technical assistance with data analysis. We are also grateful to Fangyuan Zhou (Qilu University of Technology) for his insightful suggestions and constructive feedback on the conceptual framework of this study.
Funding
This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (32370523).
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Li, C., Sun, Z., Zhang, Y. et al. Gut bacteria prime and reinforce mature leaf oviposition preference in beetles via plant mediated feedback.
Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73654-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73654-4
Source: Ecology - nature.com
