Genetic and host-associated differentiation within Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its links to Tomato spotted wilt virus-vector competence

Abstract

Genetic and host-associated differentiation within Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its links to Tomato spotted wilt virus-vector competence GC Westmore, FS Poke, GR Allen and CR Wilson Of eight thelytokous populations of onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) collected from potato (three populations), onion (four) or Chrysanthemum (one) hosts from various regions of Australia, only those from potato were capable of transmitting Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in controlled transmission experiments. Genetic differentiation of seven of these eight populations, and nine others not tested for TSWV vector competence, was examined by comparison of the DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene. All Australian populations of T. tabaci grouped within the European 'L2' clade of Brunner et al. (2004). Within this clade the seven populations from potato, the three from onion, and the four from other hosts (Chrysanthemum, Impatiens, lucerne, blackberry nightshade) clustered as three distinct sub-groupings characterised by source host. Geographical source of thrips populations had no influence on genetic diversity. These results link genetic differentiation of thelytokous T. tabaci to source host and to TSWV vector capacity for the first time.

Performance of Arrhenotokous and Thelytokous <I>Thrips tabaci</I> (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Onion and Cabbage and Its Implications on Evolution and Pest Management

“…Additionally, the increasing incidence of virus diseases transmitted by T. tabaci has been documented (Diaz-Montano et al 2011). Arrhenotokous and thelytokous populations have been shown to differ in their ability to transmit some of these plant viruses (Chatzivassiliou et al 1999(Chatzivassiliou et al , 2002Tedeschi et al 2001;Westmore et al 2013). Consequently, the population structure of T. tabaci on different crops can affect the overall risk of crop damage as well as affect the tactics used to mitigate such damage.…”

Iris yellow spot virus (Tospovirus: Bunyaviridae): from obscurity to research priority

“…known to be susceptible to IYSV infection. Recent reports have highlighted the genetic basis of the differential ability of specific T. tabaci populations to transmit TSWV (Inoue et al ., ; Jacobson and Kennedy, ; Jacobson et al ., ; Westmore et al ., ; Wijkamp et al ., ), and TYRV (Golnaraghi et al ., ), which might influence T. tabaci– IYSV transmission and virus–host specificity. Adaptation to specific T. tabaci populations through co‐evolution could explain the recent outbreaks of the disease in various onion‐growing areas in the USA and elsewhere.…”

Onion thrips,Thrips tabaci(Thysanoptera: Thripidae), overwintering in South Auckland, New Zealand: the importance of the local bionomic data/temperature model and biosecurity implications

“…), that is, they were arrhenotokous, but the mode of reproduction before the appearance of pyrethroid-resistant thrips is not known. Recent samples from four Australian crops were thelytokous (Westmore et al 2013).…”