Gut bacterium Acinetobacter sp. assists Camellia weevil with host plant adaptation by degrading tea saponin via the benzoate pathway

Our findings elucidated the key role of the AS23 strain in mediating CW larvae tolerance to tea saponins through the benzoate degradation pathway. This study highlights the potential of leveraging microbial saponin degradation pathways for developing environmentally friendly pest control strategies.