Host-associated genetic differentiation in Thrips tabaci (Insecta; Thysanoptera), as determined from mtDNA sequence data

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We tested for host-associated genetic differentiation in 22 populations of Thrips tabaci collected from tobacco and leek, respectively. Clustering analyses and haplotype networks based on sequence variation at a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene yielded three major evolutionary lineages; two were clearly associated with leek and the third with tobacco. These genetic findings corroborated recent experimental observations on the heterogeneity of T. tabaci populations with regard to host-plant preference and their capacity to be vectors for tomato spotted wilt virus. Estimated divergence times suggested an ancient divergence of these lineages dating back to the Miocene 28–21 million years ago. FST values between these lineages ranged between 0.824 and 0.954 (PT. tabaci must be considered a complex of cryptic (sub)species.