Contrasting effects of geographical separation on the genetic population structure of sympatric species of mites in avocado orchards (original) (raw)

Intraspecific diversity of the Cassava Green Mite Mononychellus progresivus (Acari: Tetranychidae) using comparisons of mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences and cross-breeding

Experimental and Applied Acarology, 1994

Navajas, M., Gutierrez, J., Bonato, O., Bolland, H.R. and Mapangou-Divassa, S., 1994. lntraspecific diversity of the Cassava Green Mite Mononycheltus progresivus (Acari: Tetranychidae) using comparisons of mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences and cross-breeding. Exp. Appl. Acarol., 18: 351-360.

Genetic structure of a phytophagous mite species affected by crop practices: the case of Tetranychus urticae in clementine mandarins

Experimental & applied acarology, 2014

Tetranychus urticae Koch is a cosmopolitan mite considered as the most polyphagous species among spider mites. This mite is a key pest of clementine mandarins in Eastern Spain, where Spanish clementine production concentrates. Crop management practices can affect the population dynamics of this mite and, consequently, its impact on the orchard. Microsatellite markers were used to study mite population genetics from two commercial orchards which had been managed differently following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or Organic Pest Management (OPM) schemes during four consecutive years. A multiplex system including 20 microsatellite loci was designed specifically and allowed an efficient and inexpensive genotyping of individual mites. We found that the IPM population had a stronger fluctuation of population structure and higher genetic diversity compared to OPM population. Thus, our study concludes that crop management has an impact on the population genetics of T. urticae which may be related to the alternation of some acaricides under IPM.

Mitochondrial DNA and RAPD polymorphisms in the haploid mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2004

Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is recognized as the vector of citrus leprosis virus that is a significant problem in several South American countries. Citrus leprosis has been reported from Florida in the past but no longer occurs on citrus in North America. The disease was recently reported in Central America, suggesting that B. phoenicis constitutes a potential threat to the citrus industries of North America and the Caribbean. Besides B. phoenicis, B. obovatus Donnadieu, and B. californicus (Banks) have been incriminated as vectors of citrus leprosis virus and each species has hundreds of host plants. In this study, Brevipalpus mite specimens were collected from different plants, especially citrus, in the States of Florida (USA) and Sa˜o Paulo (Brazil), and reared on citrus fruit under standard laboratory conditions. Mites were taken from these colonies for DNA extraction and for morphological species identification. One hundred and two Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were scored along with amplification and sequencing of a mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene fragment (374 bp). Variability among the colonies was detected with consistent congruence between both molecular data sets. The mites from the Florida and Brazilian colonies were morphologically identified as belonging to B. phoenicis, and comprise a monophyletic group. These colonies could be further diagnosed and subdivided geographically by mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Genetic structure of a phytophagous mite species affected by crop practices: the case of Tetranychus urticae in clementine mandarins Multiplex PCR system Á Integrated Pest Management Á Organic Pest Management

Tetranychus urticae Koch is a cosmopolitan mite considered as the most polyphagous species among spider mites. This mite is a key pest of clementine mandarins in Eastern Spain, where Spanish clementine production concentrates. Crop management practices can affect the population dynamics of this mite and, consequently, its impact on the orchard. Microsatellite markers were used to study mite population genetics from two commercial orchards which had been managed differently following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or Organic Pest Management (OPM) schemes during four consecutive years. A multiplex system including 20 microsatellite loci was designed specifically and allowed an efficient and inexpensive genotyping of individual mites. We found that the IPM population had a stronger fluctuation of population structure and higher genetic diversity compared to OPM population. Thus, our study concludes that crop management has an impact on the population genetics of T. urticae which may be related to the alternation of some acaricides under IPM.

Sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers region in spider mites (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) occurring in citrus orchards in Eastern Spain: use for species discrimination

Annals of Applied Biology, 2008

Tetranychus urticae is a polyphagous mite which is an important pest of citrus worldwide. This mite can be found feeding on many plant species occurring in the citrus agrosystem moving from weeds to trees. Because field samples consist of a mixture of different Tetranychidae species, as a first step necessary to further implement population characterization of T. urticae, species-discriminating criteria based on molecular techniques are needed. In this study, the nucleotide variation of the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) 1 and 2 and the intergenic 5.8S fragment of nuclear ribosomal DNA of T. urticae, T. turkestani, T. evansi, T. ludeni and P. citri, have been determined. Results demonstrate that for these species, the rDNA ITS2 regions are much more conserved than the corresponding rDNA ITS1. The high homogeneity of the ITS2 sequence observed among the specimens of T. urticae obtained from the same eco-region makes this DNA-sequence an excellent tool for species discrimination. ITS sequences differentiate not only species but also specimens from different geographical origin. Furthermore, PCR-RFLP analysis of the ITS2 proved adequate for a quick screening of high numbers of field samples.

Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I in tetranychid mites: a comparison between molecular phylogeny and changes of morphological and life history traits

Bulletin of Entomological Research, 1996

Spider mites, Tetranychidae, represent one of the most cosmopolitan and economically important groups of terrestrial arthropods; however, many aspects of their evolutionary relationships remain uncertain. We sequenced part of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in 20 species of phytophagous mites belonging to nine genera and two families (Tetranychidae and Tenuipalpidae), including several agricultural pests. As eported in insects, the sequences were extremely rich in A + T (75% on average), especially in the third codon position (95%). However, one of the genera we studied had a significantly lower A + T content (69% on average, 78% in the third codon position), showing that base composition can change substantially over short periods of time. Most interspecific differences were transversions and their number increased steadily with the number of non-synonymous differences, while the number of transitions remained constant. The phylogeny based on COI sequences...

Host plant associations in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae): insights from molecular phylogeography

Ecology and Evolution of the Acari, 1999

This article integrates studies on the genetic variation of T. urticae populations and the interspecific variation of several tetranychid species. It aims at obtaining insights into the roles of the historical, geographical and ecological factors in the partitioning of variation of species. Two types of molecular markers were used to determine whether the patterns of genetic variation in mites inhabiting different host plants can shed light on the existence of host plant associations. The ribosomal sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2), which evolves through concerted evolution, are good indicators of long-term isolation between populations and reveal exceptional homogeneity in a worldwide sampling of T. urticae. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences do not disclose old divergences related to host plant in this mite but rather suggest recent geographic colonization patterns of the species. Allozyme variation on a fine scale gives some evidence of host associations in the case of citrus trees. However, if any divergence of mites related to this host plant exists, it probably prevails in local populations only and it should not be old enough to be revealed by a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI sequences. The phyletic constraint in the evolution of feeding specificity in the family Tetranychidae is investigated based on a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial sequences. The results provide some support for the hypothesis that an evolutionary trend towards polyphagy has occurred in the family. Overall, it seems that the major characteristic of T. urticae is its high colonization potential. Polyphagy has enhanced its successful spread and may have led to connectivity between populations worldwide.

Analysis of microsatellite variation in the spider mite pest Tetranychus turkestani (Acari: Tetranychidae) reveals population genetic structure and raises questions about related ecological factors

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004

The habitat fragmentation that characterizes agricultural systems made up of an array of sympatric crop and weed biotopes might be a major determinant of the population structure of plant-feeding arthropods. Spider mites are interesting in this regard as several species are highly polyphagous, possibly generating homogenization by plant shifting, but also have the potential of forming host plant races which promotes specialization. This study analyses genetic diversity and structure in natural populations of a spider mite pest, Tetranychus turkestani, collected on both crops and weeds. Five microsatellite markers were used to genotype 283 individuals collected from 15 samples in four locations in southern France. The markers revealed considerable genetic variation, with an average heterozygosity of 0.68. Pairwise F ST estimates calculated between localities showed differentiation in all comparisons. Although geographical distance appears to be a factor that influences T. turkestani population genetic structure at a regional scale, there was no clear evidence for differentiation between mites living on different host plants. A hierarchical analysis of the distribution of the genetic diversity within and between habitats showed that more than 97% of the observed genetic variation accounted for the differentiation between mites collected on the same host plant in a given locality. Significant heterozygote deficiency was found in 11 out of the 15 samples studied. Considering the biology of the mite, a Wahlund effect and inbreeding might explain such an excess of homozygosity. The data support the view that the plants in a given locality are colonized by mites that originate from diverse sources. They also support previous data suggesting that the demographic structure is made up of small demes of inbred individuals. The agricultural-level implications of the data are discussed, notably the fact that mites may well be capable of moving between host plants, making weeds surrounding the crop fields potential reservoirs for the pest.

The invasive coconut mite Aceria guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae): origin and invasion sources inferred from mitochondrial (16S) and nuclear (ITS) sequences

Bulletin of Entomological Research, 2005

Over the past 30 years the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis Keifer has emerged as one of the most important pests of coconut and has recently spread to most coconut production areas worldwide. The mite has not been recorded in the Indo-Pacific region, the area of origin of coconut, suggesting that it has infested coconut only recently. To investigate the geographical origin, ancestral host associations, and colonization history of the mite, DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial and one nuclear region were obtained from samples of 29 populations from the Americas, Africa and the Indo-ocean region. Mitochondrial DNA 16S ribosomal sequences were most diverse in Brazil, which contained six of a total of seven haplotypes. A single haplotype was shared by non-American mites. Patterns of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) variation were similar, again with the highest nucleotide diversity found in Brazil. These results suggest an American origin of the mite and lend evidence to a previous hypothesis that the original host of the mite is a non-coconut palm. In contrast to the diversity in the Americas, all samples from Africa and Asia were identical or very similar, consistent with the hypothesis that the mite invaded these regions recently from a common source. Although the invasion routes of this mite are still only partially reconstructed, the study rules out coconut as the ancestral host of A. guerreronis, thus prompting a reassessment of efforts using quarantine and biological control to check the spread of the pest.