Assessing genetic diversity of three species of potato tuber moths (Gelechiidae, Lepidoptera) in the Ecuadorian highlands
Abstract
Three species of potato tuber moths, Tecia solanivora Povolny, Symmetrischema tangolias Gyen, and Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (all Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), attack potato plants in the highlands of Ecuador and cause great economic losses. To understand their ecology and to develop precise integrated pest management strategies, a description of the molecular identification of each species and genetic diversity within populations is needed. In this study, we assessed the genetic diversity of a total of 112 moth samples of these 3 distinct species. Samples were collected from the 4 central provinces (Bolívar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Tungurahua) in the Ecuadorian highlands, where potato is a major crop for food security. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing, we compared mitochondrial gene sequences among conspecific moth samples. Each of the 3 species exhibited different patterns regarding genetic diversity; more than 1 haplotype was present in P. operculella and S. tangolias, whereas all T. solanivora samples were found to be genetically identical. This initial effort of molecular characterization of the potato tuber moths will facilitate identifying incursion and potential migration route of Gelechiidae species as well as prevention of the pest outbreaks.
Resumen
Tres especies de polillas de la papa, Tecia solanivora Povolny, Symmetrischema tangolias Gyen, y Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (todos Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), atacan el cultivo de la papa en la sierra ecuatoriana causando grandes pérdidas económicas. Para comprender su ecología y desarrollar estrategias precisas de manejo integrado de plagas, se necesita una descripción de la identificación molecular de cada especie y la diversidad genética de poblaciones intraespecíficas. En este estudio, realizamos una caracterización molecular de un total de 112 muestras de polillas de estas 3 especies. Se recolectaron muestras de las 4 provincias centrales de los Andes ecuatorianos (Bolívar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, y Tungurahua) donde la papa es un cultivo importante para la seguridad alimentaria. Utilizando la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y secuenciación Sanger, comparamos las secuencias de los genes mitocondriales entre las muestras de las 3 especies de polillas. Cada una de las 3 especies exhibió diferentes patrones con respecto a la diversidad genética; más de 1 haplotipo estuvo presente en P. operculella y S. tangolias, mientras que todas las muestras de T. solanivora fueron genéticamente idénticas. Este esfuerzo inicial de caracterización molecular de las polillas del tubérculo de la papa facilitará la identificación de la incursión y la posible ruta de migración de las especies de Gelechiidae y prevención de despuntes poblacionales de las plagas.
Key Words: Tecia solanivora; Symmetrischema tangolias; Phthorimaea operculella; haplotype; potato tuber moth
Supplementary material for this article in Florida Entomologist 103(3) (September 2020) is online at http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/entomologist/browse
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