Global Analysis of the Tobacco Budworm-Cotton Microbiome

PCR amplification and gradient gel electrophoresis is used to characterize for the first time the global bacterial microbiome of a major pest species, the tobacco budworm, in cotton and to provide preliminary data for future pyrosequencing and analysis of the budworm associated with cotton. The goal of the work is to provide a better appreciation of the importance of the bacterial microbiome on cotton production.