biostudies-literatureUnknown275(1634)Chandler SMThe interactions between herbivorous insects and their symbiotic micro-organisms can be influenced by the plant species on which the insects are reared, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Here, we identify plant nutrients, specifically amino acids, as a candidate factor affecting the impact of symbiotic bacteria on the performance of the phloem-feeding aphid Aphis fabae. Aphis fabae grew more slowly on the labiate plant Lamium purpureum than on an alternative host plant Vicia faba, and the negative effect of L. purpureum on aphid growth was consistently exacerbated by the bacterial secondary symbionts Regiella insecticola and Hamiltonella defensa, which attained high densities in L. purpureum-reared aphids. The amino acid content of the phloem sap of L. purpureum was very loProceedings. Biological sciences565-70https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2596814biostudies-literatureImpact of plant nutrients on the relationship between a herbivorous insect and its symbiotic bacteria.PMC2596814Douglas AEWilkinson TLChandler SMfalseImpact of plant nutrients on the relationship between a herbivorous insect and its symbiotic bacteria.The interactions between herbivorous insects and their symbiotic micro-organisms can be influenced by the plant species on which the insects are reared, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Here, we identify plant nutrients, specifically amino acids, as a candidate factor affecting the impact of symbiotic bacteria on the performance of the phloem-feeding aphid Aphis fabae. Aphis fabae grew more slowly on the labiate plant Lamium purpureum than on an alternative host plant Vicia faba, and the negative effect of L. purpureum on aphid growth was consistently exacerbated by the bacterial secondary symbionts Regiella insecticola and Hamiltonella defensa, which attained high densities in L. purpureum-reared aphids. The amino acid content of the phloem sap of L. purpureum was very lo2008-01-01T00:00:00Z2008 Mar2025-04-05T15:10:15.503Z2019-03-27T00:19:41ZS-EPMC25968141808953810.1098/rspb.2007.1478