Population genetics of Oligonychus perseae (Acari: Tetranychidae) collected from avocados in Mexico and California

Authors

  • Jesús R. Lara University of California, Department of Entomology, Riverside, California 92521, USA
  • Paul F. Rugman-Jones University of California, Department of Entomology, Riverside, California 92521, USA
  • Richard Stouthamer University of California, Department of Entomology, Riverside, California 92521, USA;
  • Mark S. Hoddle University of California, Department of Entomology, Riverside, California 92521, USA

Keywords:

persea mite, invasive species, native origin, cryptic species,

Abstract

Abstract

Oligonychus perseae Tuttle, Baker & Abbatiello (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an economically important foliar pest of avocados from Mexico. Invasive O. perseae populations became established throughout the commercial avocado system in California (USA) during the early 1990s, but the putative geographic origin(s) of the California O. perseae populations has not been investigated. To address this shortcoming, a series of population genetic analyses for O. perseae populations representative of a broad geographic sample range was conducted. This study identified a single mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) haplotype match between O. perseae populations collected in California with those from 4 municipalities in Michoacán, Mexico, part of the presumptive native range of this pest. Interestingly, this haplotype also was collected from avocados at 2 locations in Baja California, Mexico, and it was identified from a representative sample from Israel where O. perseae is an invasive avocado pest. Molecular data confirm the likely Mexican origin of invasive O. perseae populations in California, and may help delimit the geographic area to be searched for coevolved natural enemies of O. perseae that could be introduced into California as part of a future classical biological control program targeting this pest. Moreover, molecular results uncovered significant and concordant genetic divergence in both mitochondrial (COI) and ribosomal DNA markers, i.e.,internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and a section of the 28S gene region, pointing to the potential occurrence of a cryptic species complex within O. perseae. The implications of these findings on future taxonomic and molecular work for O. perseae are discussed.

 

Resumen

Oligonychus perseae Tuttle, Baker & Abbatiello (Acari: Tetranychidae) es una plaga foliar proveniente de México con suma importancia económica para el cultivo de aguacate. Poblaciones invasoras de O. perseae se establecieron en el sistema de producción comercial de aguacate en California (E.U.A.) a principios de la década de 1990. Sin embargo, el supuesto origen geográfico de las poblaciones de O. perseae en California no ha sido investigado. Para abordar esta limitación, se realizó una serie de análisis genéticos utilizando poblaciones de O. perseae que representan un amplio rango geográfico de muestras. En el presente estudio se encontró que las poblaciones de O. perseae en California comparten el mismo haplotipo singular con 4 municipios en el estado de Michoacán, México, parte del presunto rango nativo de esta plaga. A la vez, este haplotipo también se asoció con 2 sitios localizados en el estado de Baja California, México, y también fue identificado de una muestra de Israel, en donde O. perseae es una plaga invasora que ataca al cultivo de aguacate. Resultados de los analices moleculares confirmaron el probable origen Mexicano de las poblaciones invasoras de O. perseae en California. Esta información ayuda a reducir la zona geográfica de búsqueda en México para encontrar enemigos naturales que coevolucionaron con O. perseae con el fin de desarrollar un programa de control biológico clásico para esta plaga en el sistema de aguacate en California. Más aún, los analices moleculares revelaron divergencia genética significante y concordante en el ADN mitocondrial citocromo c oxidasa subunidad I (COI) y ribosomal, espacio interno transcrito 2 (ITS2) y parte de la región del gene 28S. Esto señala la posible ocurrencia de un complejo críptico de especies dentro de O. perseae. Las implicaciones de estos hallazgos con respecto a futuro trabajo taxonómico y molecular para O. perseae son abarcadas.


 

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Published

2017-10-10

Issue

Vol. 100, No. 3 (September 2017)

Section

Research Papers

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