First complete mitochondrial genome of Pselliophora (Diptera, Tipulidae): genome description and phylogenetic implications

Abstract

Pselliophora is widely distributed in Eurasia and China. To explore the characteristics of the mitogenome of Pselliophora and reveal phylogenetic relationships, the mitogenome of Pselliophora bifascipennis Brunetti, 1911 was sequenced and annotated. This is the first complete mitochondrial genome in this genus. Its mitogenome is 15821 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA genes. Nucleotide compositions of its whole mitogenome are 39.09% for A, 38.49% for T, 13.42% for C, and 9.01% for G. Consistent with previous observations of Tipulidae species, the mitogenome of Pselliophora bifascipennis is highly conserved in gene size, organization and codon usage, and secondary structures of tRNAs. Most tRNAs have the typical clover-leaf structure. The control region is 1006 bp long with an A + T content of 92.7%. Phylogenetic tree analysis using the sequences of the mitochondrial genomes of Pselliophora bifascipennis and other Tipulidae species showed that Pselliophora bifascipennis is closely related to Tanyptera hebeiensis. These two species are grouped on the same branch, which is in accordance with the traditional morphological classification. The results of this study lay a foundation for screening molecular markers of mitochondrion for molecular identification and genetic structure research in Tipulidae species.