Genetic divergence among tomato leafminer populations based on AFLP analysis

Fábio Akiyoshi Suinaga,Vicente Wagner Dias Casali,John Foster,Marcelo Picanço

doi:10.1590/s0100-204x2004000700005

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the genetic differences among eight Brazilian populations of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), from the states of Espírito Santo (Santa Tereza), Goiás (Goianápolis), Minas Gerais (Uberlândia and Viçosa), Pernambuco (Camocim de São Félix), Rio de Janeiro (São João da Barra) and São Paulo (Paulínia and Sumaré), using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. Fifteen combinations of EcoRI and MseI primers were used to assess divergence among populations. The data were analyzed using unweighted pair-group method, based on arithmetic averages (UPGMA) bootstrap analysis and principal coordinate analysis. Using a multilocus approach, these populations were divided in two groups, based on genetic fingerprints. Populations from Goianápolis, Santa Tereza, and Viçosa formed one group. Populations from Camocim de São Félix, Paulínia, São João da Barra, Sumaré, and Uberlândia fitted in the second group. These results were congruent with differences in susceptibility of this insect to insecticides, previously identified by other authors.

Highlights

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an oligophagous pest which damages eggplants, green peppers, and especially tomatoes
T. absoluta feeds on tomato leaves and on its stems, apices, flowers, and fruits
This insect causes significant leaf damage, resulting in reduced fruit yield. Damage caused by this pest is analogous to that caused by other Gelechiidae tomato pests, such as Keiferia lycopersicella (Wals.) and Phthorimea operculella (Zell.)

Summary

Introduction

(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an oligophagous pest which damages eggplants, green peppers, and especially tomatoes. It is one of the most important insect pests of tomato in the Neotropical region, mainly in South America (Picanço et al, 1998). T. absoluta feeds on tomato leaves and on its stems, apices, flowers, and fruits. In high densities, this insect causes significant leaf damage, resulting in reduced fruit yield. This insect causes significant leaf damage, resulting in reduced fruit yield Damage caused by this pest is analogous to that caused by other Gelechiidae tomato pests, such as Keiferia lycopersicella (Wals.) and Phthorimea operculella (Zell.). The former can be found in the Central and North Americas and the latter in Africa, Asia, and Europe as well as in the Americas (Shipp et al, 1998)

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