Microorgans in herbivorous two-spotted spider mites regulate ecological interactions with lima bean plant

Kanzawa spider mites, Tetranychus kanzawai, are polyphagous herbivores that feed on various plant families including legumes. Lima bean leaves infested by T. kanzawai emit a specific blend of volatiles. We found that two strains of spider mites were able to induce different blends of volatile to lima bean plants infested by either strain. Here we describe the genetic properties of the two strains and the responses of lima bean plants to the mite damage in terms of expression of defensive genes, emission of herbivore-induced plant volatiles, and phenotypic response of lima bean and other legume leaves (leaf color).