Population genetic structure of the newly invasive Q biotype of Bemisia tabaci in Taiwan

Abstract

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is among the top 100 invasive pests in the world, and it causes serious agricultural damage and economic losses in many countries. More than 24 biotypes of the sweetpotato whitefly have been detected worldwide, of which the Q biotype has recently been reported to be a new invasive pest spreading throughout the world via trade in poinsettias, Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch (Euphorbiaceae). In 2006, the Q biotype was first recorded in Taiwan in greenhouses, but not in the field, suggesting that the invasion of this biotype might be at an early stage in that country. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene and 12 microsatellite loci were used to investigate the genetic structure of multiple B. tabaci Q biotype populations. The presence of only a few COI haplotypes and a low number of nucleotide differences suggest high genetic similarity among these populations. Microsatellite analyses also revealed low genetic differentiation and frequent gene flow among greenhouses. The molecular evidence supports the occurrence of a recent genetic bottleneck in the B. tabaci Q biotype. Bayesian cluster analyses indicated that at least two invasion events have occurred in Taiwan. Phylogenetic analyses of microsatellites support Q biotype migration among greenhouses, which was likely facilitated by the frequent movement of poinsettias between greenhouses. Future management strategies should focus on developing plantlet trade regulations to avoid further anthropogenic dispersal of the B. tabaci Q biotype among greenhouses in Taiwan.

Microsatellites reveal widespread predominance of an invasive over an indigenous Bemisia tabaci in Venezuela

“…In contrast, two genetic groups have been found in other populations of MEAM1 using microsatellite markers (Delatte et al 2006). Also, using the same molecular markers, invader MED individuals of whiteflies in Taiwan exhibited a subdivision pattern within this group when comparing populations in poinsettia plants from several greenhouses (Hsieh et al 2011). Interestingly in that case, the alien whitefly was not found in crop fields; the authors speculated that populations of this invader whitefly are at an early stage of invasion and may still not be well established in the field since its introduction into Taiwan through poinsettia international trade.…”

Elucidation of the genetic differences in Trialeurodes vaporariorum populations under vegetable greenhouse conditions by using the allozyme approach

“…RAPD‐PCR or microsatellites have facilitated the study of B. tabaci populations (Hsieh et al . ). Since Berger () applied isozyme analysis in Drosophila melanogaster , variation analysis of DNA and enzyme levels have been conventionally used in population structure studies, including T. vaporariorum (Agustí et al .…”

“…Since an allozyme appears as a general enzyme variation, it represents a more conserved form of variation between populations than DNA based markers, such as RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA), single nucleotide polymorphism in intergenic or intron regions, or microsatellite marker, which are generally used for population-level genetic structure studies. RAPD-PCR or microsatellites have facilitated the study of B. tabaci populations (Hsieh et al 2011). Since Berger (1971) applied isozyme analysis in Drosophila melanogaster, variation analysis of DNA and enzyme levels have been conventionally used in population structure studies, including T. vaporariorum (Agustí et al 2001).…”

Migration and dispersal may drive to high genetic variation and significant genetic mixing: the case of two agriculturally important, continental hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus and Sphaerophoria scripta)

“…; Hsieh et al . ; Karsten et al . ), while many beneficial species such as wild bees (Kremen et al .…”