Application of DNA barcoding to the identification of Hymenoptera parasitoids from the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) in China

Abstract

Aphis glycines Matsumura is an important pest of soybean in Asia and North America. Hymenoptera parasitoids play a key role in the control of the soybean aphid. The correct identification of parasitoids is a critical step that precedes the assessment of their potential biological control agents. Accurate identification of the majority of the species attacking the soybean aphid often requires elaborate specimen preparation and expert taxonomic knowledge. In this study, we facilitated the identification of soybean aphid parasitoids by applying a DNA barcoding approach following a preliminary morphological identification. We generated DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial COI gene and the D2 region of 28S rDNA to assess the genetic variation within and between parasitoid species emerging from the soybean aphid in China. Fifteen Hymenoptera parasitoid species belonging to 10 genera of five families were identified with little intra-specific variation (0.09% ± 0.06% for 28S and 0.36% ± 0.18% for COI) and large inter-specific divergence (30.46% ± 3.42% for 28S and 20.4% ± 1.20% for COI).

A molecular framework for the identification of planthopper vectors (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) of central Argentina

“…This fragment is longer than the standard DNA barcode region proposed by Hebert et al (2003) for fauna and overlaps in 365 bp with that standard region. Regarding the variability of this fragment, the average intraspecific divergence was low (0.12%) with respect to results reported for other insect groups: 0.36% for aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera) in China (Zhou et al, 2014), 0.80% for species of the genus Spodoptera of Lepidoptera in Florida (USA) (Nagoshi et al, 2011), 1.39% for the genus Epitrix (Coleoptera) in Europe and North America (Germain et al, 2013), 1.60% in sandfly species (Diptera) in Colombia (Contreras Gutiérrez et al, 2014), and 3.14% for aphid species of the genus Toxoptera (Hemiptera) in China (Wang & Qiao, 2009). This expected low intraspecific variability may be explained by the restricted geographic area included in the present study (corn production area of central Argentina).…”

Molecular and morphological identification of hymenoptran parasitoids from the pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae in Razavi Khorasan province, Iran

“…This indicated that the 28S is not appropriate marker to separate these two species. Derocles et al (2011) and Zhou et al (2014) also demonstrated that these species were very closely related and that the 28S gene was unable to differentiate them.…”

“…Even when keys are available, they are difficult to use and morphological identification of species remains problematic if not impossible for non-specialists (Tomanovic et al 2003). Consequently, misidentification of parasitoids used in biocontrol may result in serious economic losses (Compere 1961;Rosen & Debach 1973;Zhou et al 2014). …”

Aphids as models for ecological and evolutionary studies

“…Using the DNA barcoding technique, Zhou et al . () identify 15 Hymenoptera parasitoid species belonging to 10 genera of five families from the soybean aphid populations in northeastern China. Xu et al .…”

“…Their results indicate that soybean aphids are recovered in suction traps about 2 weeks earlier than in traditional field surveys, indicating the efficiency of suction traps in aphid monitoring. Using the DNA barcoding technique, Zhou et al (2014) identify 15 Hymenoptera parasitoid species belonging to 10 genera of five families from the soybean aphid populations in northeastern China. Xu et al (2014) report an interesting finding that the cucurbit-specialized lineages of A. gossypii have the potential to utilize mature or whitefly-stressed cotton plants as temporary hosts.…”