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Investigation of the genetic diversity of an invasive whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in China using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

D. Chu*
Affiliation:
High-tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement of Crop Animal and Poultry of Shandong Province, Jinan 250100, China
C.S. Gao
Affiliation:
High-tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement of Crop Animal and Poultry of Shandong Province, Jinan 250100, China Agronomy and Plant Protection, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, China
P. De Barro
Affiliation:
CSIRO Entomology 120 Meiers Road Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia
F.H. Wan
Affiliation:
The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
Y.J. Zhang
Affiliation:
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
*
*Authors for correspondence Fax: +86 531 83178156 E-mail: chinachudong@sina.com.cn
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Abstract

It is often considered that reduced genetic variation due to bottlenecks and founder effects limits the capacity for species to establish in new environments and subsequently spread. The recent invasion (during the past five years) of an alien whitefly, one member of Bemisia tabaci cryptic species complex, referred to as Mediterranean (herein referred to as Q-type) in Shandong Province, China, provides an ideal opportunity to study the changes in genetic variation between its home range in the Mediterranean region and its invasion range. Using both the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) and nuclear (microsatellite) DNA, we show that Q in Shandong likely originated in the western Mediterranean. We also found that the haplotype diversity was low compared with its presumed geographic origin, whereas microsatellite allele diversity showed no such decline. A key factor in invasions is the establishment of females and so bottleneck and founder events can lead to a very rapid and considerable loss of mitochondrial diversity. The lack of haplotype diversity in Shandong supports the interpretation that, at one or more points between the western Mediterranean and China, the invading Q lost haplotype diversity, most probably through the serial process of establishment and redistribution through trade in ornamental plants. However, the loss in haplotype diversity does not necessarily mean that nuclear allelic diversity should also decline. Provided females can mate freely with whichever males are available, allelic diversity can be maintained or even increased relative to the origin of the invader. Our findings may offer some explanation to the apparent paradox between the concept of reduced genetic variation limiting adaptation to new environments and the observed low diversity in successful invaders.

Information

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011
Figure 0

Table 1. Data of Bemisia tabaci samples used.

Figure 1

Fig. 1. Changes in genetic diversity associated with introduction. (a) A plot of haplotype diversity (Hd) of mtCOI sequences across populations and that calculated for each region as a whole. (b) Plot of expected heterozygosity (He) of microsatellite across populations and that calculated for each region as a whole (—●—, Average of populations; —□—, Regional level).

Figure 2

Table 2. Statistics of variation in mtCOI sequences from the presumed origin in Morocco and Spain and those from different locations in Shandong, China.

Figure 3

Table 3. The allele-sharing among populations.

Figure 4

Table 4. Estimates of diversity in Q populations based on six microsatellite loci.