author(s)
Megaladevi P, Kennedy JS, Jeyarani S, Nakkeeran S and Balachandar D

abstract
Papaya mealybug (PMB) Paracoccus marginatus host several endosymbionts to have nutritional benefits like enhancing the synthesis of essential amino acids and protection over natural enemies. In this study using metagenomic analysis, we characterized the bacterial endosymbiotic diversity of this notorious pest from four different host plants such as papaya (Carica papaya L.), brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and congress grass (Parthenium hysterophorus L.). Results revealed that the primary endosymbiont of mealybugs Candidatus Tremblaya was reported from the PMB of all four different host plants viz., papaya, brinjal, cassava and parthenium with 79.83, 5.46, 29.01, and 46.66 per cent in abundance, respectively. Secondary endosymbionts like Pseudomonas (4.03 per cent) and Acinetobacter (3.32 per cent); Sphingomonas (8.81 per cent) and Pseudomonas (12.76 per cent); Enterococcus (64.57 per cent); Erwinia (40.27 per cent) and Pseudomonas (4.39 per cent) were identified in papaya, brinjal, cassava and parthenium respectively.