Pest Management Science (2018) 74, 170-173
Samia Elfekih, Wee Tek Tay, Karl Gordon, Leon N. Court and Paul J. De Barro (2018)
Standardized molecular diagnostic tool for the identification of cryptic species within the Bemisia tabaci complex
Pest Management Science 74 (1), 170-173
Abstract:
Background
The whitefly Bemisia tabaci complex harbours over 40 cryptic species that have been placed in 11 phylogenetically distinct clades based on the molecular characterization of partial mitochondrial DNA COI (mtCOI) gene region. Four cryptic species are currently within the invasive clade, i.e. MED, MEAM1, MEAM2 and IO. Correct identification of these species is a critical step towards implementing reliable measures for plant biosecurity and border protection; however, no standardized B. tabaci-specific primers are currently available which has caused inconsistencies in the species identification processes.
Results
We report three sets of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers developed to amplify the mtCOI region which can be used for genotyping MED, MEAM1 and IO species, and tested these primers on 91 MED, 35 MEAM1 and five IO individuals. PCR and sequencing of amplicons identified a total of 21, six and one haplotypes in MED, MEAM1 and IO respectively, of which six haplotypes were new to the B. tabaci database.
Conclusion
These primer pairs enabled standardization and robust molecular species identification via mtCOI screening of the targeted invasive cryptic species and will improve quarantine decisions. Use of this diagnostic tool could be extended to other species within the complex.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Samia Elfekih, Wee T. Tay, Karl H.J. Gordon, Paul J. De Barro
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
