Leaf Beetle Symbiotic Bacteria Degrade Chlorogenic Acid of Poplar Induced by Egg Deposition to Enhance Larval Survival

ABSTRACT Insect symbiotic microbiota acting as a third‐party force of plant‐insect interactions, play a significant role in insect hosts tolerance to phytochemical defences. However, it remains unknown whether insect symbiotic bacteria can assist the host in degrading phytochemical defences induced by egg deposition. Plagiodera versicolora is a worldwide forest pest. Our study showed that P. versicolora egg deposition on Populus davidiana × Populus bolleana induced significant changes in the transcriptome and metabolome of leaves. Combined qRT‐PCR and LC‐MS quantitative analysis of metabolic pathways showed that the contents of chlorogenic acid and rutin were significantly increased upon egg deposition in poplar. Bioassays indicated that the high concentration of chlorogenic acid induced by egg deposition could significantly reduce the performance of germ‐free larvae. Six symbiotic bacterial strains with potential ability to degrade chlorogenic acid were isolated and identified. Their degradation products did not affect larval survival either. In vivo inoculation assays showed that four of those symbiotic bacteria could assist in the degradation of high concentration of chlorogenic acid induced by egg deposition and improve the larval survival. Our study provides clear evidence that the insect symbiotic bacteria can mediate the tolerance of herbivorous insects against plant toxins induced by egg deposition.