Entomological Science (1998) 1, 55-57

Tetsuo Gotoh, Jean Gutierrez and Maria Navajas (1998)
Molecular comparison of the sibling species Tetranychus pueraricola Ehara et Gotoh and T. urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Entomological Science 1 (1), 55-57
Abstract: DNA sequence data were used to examine relationships between the two sibling species Tetranychus pueraricola Ehara et Gotoh and Tetranychus urticae Koch. The second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA was amplified by PCR and sequenced. The ITS2 sequences of these two species displayed a high degree of identity (98.3%) comparable to the nucleotide divergence observed in other pairs of closely related species. These data confirm the species status of T. pueraricola and are in agreement with previous results based on morphological analyses and crossing experiments. Furthermore, restriction-site analysis of the ITS2 region was performed in order to detect species-specific diagnostic restriction sites. Thus, the efficiency of molecular markers as a tool for determining the taxonomic status in spider mites was shown.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Maria Navajas, Tetsuo Gotoh

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae
	Tetranychus (genus)