Only the B biotype of Bemisia tabaci is present on vegetables in São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) is one of the most important pests in cultivated areas of vegetables and ornamental crops around the world. Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidize I (mtCOI) sequence, there is evidence that B. tabaci should be considered a cryptic species complex of 11 groups containing 24 species. Two of the groups, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 and Mediterranean include biotypes B and Q, respectively. In this study we evaluated the mtCOI sequence of B. tabaci populations collected in sites of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Using PCR-RFLP with Taq I, a typical biotype B profile was obtained for all specimens. Based on the comparison with mtCOI reference sequences we found four haplotypes all belonging to the Middle EastAsia Minor 1. They occurred in the hosts pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and cucurbitaceae plants.

Structure of genetic diversity of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations in Brazilian crops and locations

“…Since then, through genetic studies with RAPD molecular markers (Lima et al, 2000;Lima et al, 2002;Fontes et al, 2010) and mitochondrial gene sequences (Rocha et al, 2011), no evidence was obtained concerning the presence of other biotypes in the country. Therefore, the level and structure of the genetic diversity for this insect in many crops of economic importance in Brazilian locations was characterized, aiming to understand the genetic relationship among them, through the use of microsatellite markers (SSR).…”

Evaluation of resistance to Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) in Capsicum spp. genotypes

“…acephala) and soybean (Glycine max) plants, which are non-host of ToSRV species. The whitefly species was identified by using PCR-RFLP analysis and sequencing the mtCOI gene (Rocha et al, 2011). For ToSRV-PJU transmission, adult insects were collected from collard green and soybean plants with the aid of a glass tube mouth aspirator.…”

“…Widespread damage by geminiviruses has caused low yields of peppers in some crop production areas in the world, causing serious economic impacts. Therefore, special attention has been given to the genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) (Navas-Castillo et al, 2011). Members of this genus have a circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genome encapsidated in twinned icosahedral (geminate) virions.…”

“…Members of this genus have a circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genome encapsidated in twinned icosahedral (geminate) virions. Transmission by natural means is through the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gen. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) (Stanley et al, 2005;Navas-Castillo et al, 2011).…”

“…Since the first report of begomoviruses in pepper in Brazil (Lima et al, 2001), B. tabaci belonging to the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 group, which includes the invasive populations of the commonly known B biotype (Dinsdale et al, 2010), has been frequently found in this crop, contributing to an increase in the incidence of these viruses, especially Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV), prevalent in São Paulo state (Nozaki et al, 2006;Rocha et al, 2010;Rocha et al, 2011) and widespread in Brazil (Fernandes et al, 2008). Brazil is considered one of the major diversity centers of the neotropical bipartite begomovirus cluster (Fernandes et al, 2008).…”