The complete mitochondrial genomes of two erythroneurine leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Erythroneurini) with assessment of the phylogenetic status and relationships of tribes of Typhlocybinae.

Abstract

The number and classification of tribes in the leafhopper subfamily Typhlocybinae are not yet fully clear, and molecular data has recently been used to help resolve the problem. In this study, the mitochondrial genomes of Mitjaevia shibingensis Chen, Song & Webb, 2020 and M. dworakowskae Chen, Song & Webb, 2020 of the tribe Erythroneurini (Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) were sequenced. Most protein-coding genes (PCGs) start with ATN and end with TAA or TAG, and the AT content of these three codons were found differ from previous results that show that the first codon has the highest incidence. Two rRNA genes are highly conserved, and the AT content in 16S is higher than that of 12S. The nucleotide diversity and genetic distance among 13 PCGs of the four tribes from Typhlocybinae show that Empoascini nucleotide diversity is significantly less than in the other three tribes, and have the largest distance from the others, while Typhlocybini and Zyginellini have the smallest distance, indicating that the relationship between the two is the closest. The nad2, nad4, nad4L, and nad5 genes have greater nucleotide diversity, showing potential for use as the main markers for species identification. The phylogenetic analysis yielded a well-supported topology with most branches receiving maximum support and a few branches pertaining to relationships within Zyginellini and Typhlocybini receiving lower support. The species of these two tribes are intertwined, and it was impossible to resolve them into separate branches. In addition, the tribes Empoascini and Erythroneurini were recovered as monophyletic, and Alebrini was placed at the base of the tree as the most primitive. These results are broadly in line with other molecular phylogenetical studies which differ from traditional morphological classification.