DNA-based methods for eriophyoid mite studies: review, critical aspects, prospects and challenges

Abstract

Besides their potential for species identification, DNA-based methods are also routinely used for addressing ecological, evolutionary, phylogenetic and genetic questions to study several groups of Acari. However, in contrast to other plant-feeding mites and despite the economical relevance of many species of Eriophyoidea, very few scientists have dared so far to use DNA methods for the study of this group of mites; their very small size certainly has influenced this. In this review we examine the main techniques that have been used to study eriophyoid mites and discuss the results from the literature where DNA methods have provided significant advances to address several essential questions of the eriophyoid biology, e.g., to clarify suspect synonymies, to test hypothesis of cryptic species, to examine the occurrence of biotypes, especially in relation to virus ability or host-plant associations, to understand colonization patterns of invasive species, and for uses as biological control agents against invasive plants. We discuss these questions which might be related to agricultural issues, together with more fundamental aspects as the revision of the phylogeny of the Eriophyoidea. We discuss on the advantages as well as limitations of the most commonly used genetic markers and emphasize prospects and challenges of new molecular approaches. Much is now expected from molecular techniques in many fields of biology and for virtually all taxa. Eriophyoids should not be the exception.

The control of eriophyoid mites: state of the art and future challenges

“…At the same time, current research has improved our understanding of eriophyoids as crop pests. Recent developments in the field of the monitoring, collection and identification (Monfreda et al 2009;Navajas and Navia 2009) of these often hidden species, their potential biological control and several case studies in certain crops (Duso et al 2009;Castagnoli et al 2009;Gamliel et al 2009;Hardman et al 2003) will most definitely have an impact on the strategies devised for their sustainable control. Taking into account the diversity of the species and crops, a good control strategy should be developed specifically for each cropping system.…”

Obtaining molecular data for all life stages of Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) exhilaratus (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae): consequences for species identification

“…It can also be applied for mites for which even adults are very small (Eriophyidae, Tenuipalpidae, endeostigmata) making molecular experiments on a single specimen difficult. Some studies already report the extraction of DNA from a single adult Eriophyidae mite (Carew et al 2004(Carew et al , 2009Navajas and Navia 2010) using Chelex protocol extraction, or from single adults of Sarcoptidae using phenol/chloroform (Berrilli et al 2002). However, the former method does not allow a good conservation of DNA extracted and it does not provide high success of PCR, whereas the latter is quite long to perform (Desloire et al 2006;Dittrich-Schroder et al 2012).…”

Differential Transmission of Two Isolates ofWheat streak mosaic virusby Five Wheat Curl Mite Populations

“…Although several other mite species in the family Eriophyidae are known to transmit economically important plant pathogens (Oldfield and Proeseler 1996), it is only recently, with the advance in use of molecular techniques, that cryptic species or genotypes have been discovered to exist among these species (Navajas and Navia 2010). Currently, with the discovery of cryptic species or genotypes, the majority of studies have focused on genotypic differences in relation to host plant response and rarely on pathogen transmission (Navajas and Navia 2010).…”

“…Currently, with the discovery of cryptic species or genotypes, the majority of studies have focused on genotypic differences in relation to host plant response and rarely on pathogen transmission (Navajas and Navia 2010). Thus far, studies reporting differential virus transmission by different mite genotypes involve WCM Oliveira-Hofman et al 2015;Schiffer et al 2009;Seifers et al 2002).…”