Exploration and phylogenetic characterisation of Wolbachia in the peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is a significant pest for tropical and subtropical fruits and vegetables and has a detrimental impact on the global economy. Subsequent samples were successfully identified using the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. Wolbachia are naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacteria found in the reproductive tissues of arthropods. The prevalence of endosymbiont Wolbachia and the diversity of its strains in populations of B. zonata were explored. The screening of 422 samples revealed (29–40) positive samples for Wolbachia infection through 16S rRNA, wsp, and MLST genes. Phylogenetic analysis using neighbour-joining (NJ) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods exhibited that the identified Wolbachia strains were clustered with those belonging to supergroup A. The newly identified strain of Wolbachia, named wBzon, differs from previously published sequences of B. zonata, indicating its potential for the incompatible insect technique (IIT). This discovery offers an eco-friendly method for managing B. zonata populations and highlights the importance of Wolbachia in these populations.