Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2021) 2022 (9 - 786450)

Qiang Li, Cui Chen, Yangxue Wu, Junaid Ali Siddiqui, Congcong Lu, Zhentao Cheng, Yonghui Li, Qian Liu and Xiaolei Huang (2021)
Specialization on Ficus supported by genetic divergence and morphometrics in sympatric host-populations of the camellia aphid, Aphis aurantii
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2022 (9 - 786450)
Abstract: Adaptation to different host plants is considered to be an important driver of the divergence and speciation of herbivorous insects. The application of molecular data and integrated taxonomic practices in recent years may contribute to our understanding of population divergence and speciation, especially for herbivorous insects considered to be polyphagous. Aphis aurantii is an important agricultural and forestry pest with a broad range of host plants. In this study, samples of A. aurantii feeding on different host plants in the same geographical area were collected, and their population genetic divergence and morphological difference were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis and haplotype network analysis based on five genes revealed that the population on Ficus exhibited significantly genetic divergence from populations on other host plants, which was also supported by the statistical analysis based on measurements of 38 morphological characters. Our results suggest that A. aurantii has undergone specialized evolution on Ficus, and the Ficus population may represent a lineage that is experiencing ongoing sympatric speciation.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aphis aurantii		China (south)