New putative cryptic species detection and genetic network analysis of Bemisia tabaci (Hempitera: Aleyrodidae) in China based on mitochondrial COI sequences

Abstract

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a cryptic species complex and widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions. To understand the B. tabaci cryptic species diversity in China more comprehensively, in the year 2014 and 2016, a large-scale sampling was conducted from the famous biodiversity hotspot of China, Yunnan province. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences were used to identify new putative cryptic species. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using Bayesian methods to evaluate the position of new cryptic species in the context of the B. tabaci diversity in Asia. Two new cryptic species, China 5 and Asia V were identified. In total, 19 B. tabaci cryptic species are present in China, two invasive (MED and MEAM1) and 17 indigenous. A new sibling species of B. tabaci was first defined and reported. Based on the mtCOI sequences and haplotype network analyses, the genetic diversity of MED was far higher than MEAM1. We confirmed the exotic MED was originated from the western Mediterranean regions and first invaded into Yunnan, China. The genetic structures of other four indigenous species (Asia I, Asia II 1, Asia II 6, and China 1) with relatively wide distribution ranges in China were also discussed.

Keywords:

• Bemisia tabaci
• cryptic species
• phylogenetic tree
• haplotype network
• mitochondrial COI

Acknowledgements

We thank the colleagues Chunhui Zou, Zhongyan Yang, and Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman for participating sample collections in the field. This work was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China (31360429, U1136606, 31560500) and the Reserve Talents of Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders of the Yunnan Province (2012HB038).

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China (31360429, U1136606, 31560500) and the Reserve Talents of Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders of the Yunnan Province (2012HB038).