Abstract
Both the Mediterranean (MED) species of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly complex and the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum, TV) are important agricultural pests. The two species of whiteflies differ in many aspects such as morphology, geographical distribution, host plant range, plant virus transmission, and resistance to insecticides. However, the molecular basis underlying their differences remains largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the genetic divergences between the transcriptomes of MED and TV. In total, 2,944 pairs of orthologous genes were identified. The average identity of amino acid sequences between the two species is 93.6%. The average nonsynonymous (Ka) and synonymous (Ks) substitution rates and the ratio of Ka/Ks of the orthologous genes are 0.0389, 2.23 and 0.0204, respectively. The low average Ka/Ks ratio indicates that orthologous genes tend to be under strong purified selection. The most divergent gene classes are related to the metabolisms of xenobiotics, cofactors, vitamins and amino acids, and this divergence may underlie the different biological characteristics between the two species of whiteflies. Genes of differential expression between the two species are enriched in carbohydrate metabolism and regulation of autophagy. These findings provide molecular clues to uncover the biological and molecular differences between the two species of whiteflies.
Highlights
Many whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are important pests of agriculture worldwide, such as some species of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly complex and the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood) [1, 2]
While whiteflies of the B. tabaci species complex and the greenhouse whitefly are similar in many aspects, they differ in many features such as geographic distribution, range of host plants, virus transmission, and resistance to insecticides [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Another major difference between MEAM1, MED, and TV lies in their capacity of viral transmission: while whiteflies of the B. tabaci species complex, including MEAM1 and MED, transmit begomoviruses that include major agents of viral diseases of important crops such as cotton, cassava, and tomato, as well as some other groups of viruses like criniviruses and ipomoviruses, TV is a major vector of criniviruses and torradoviruses but is unable to transmit begomoviruses [2, 17]
Summary
Many whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are important pests of agriculture worldwide, such as some species of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly complex and the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood) [1, 2]. While whiteflies of the B. tabaci species complex and the greenhouse whitefly are similar in many aspects, they differ in many features such as geographic distribution, range of host plants, virus transmission, and resistance to insecticides [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. In greenhouses where MEAM1/MED and TV co-exist, they differ in patterns of within-plant distribution [16] Another major difference between MEAM1, MED, and TV lies in their capacity of viral transmission: while whiteflies of the B. tabaci species complex, including MEAM1 and MED, transmit begomoviruses that include major agents of viral diseases of important crops such as cotton, cassava, and tomato, as well as some other groups of viruses like criniviruses and ipomoviruses, TV is a major vector of criniviruses and torradoviruses but is unable to transmit begomoviruses [2, 17]. Our major purpose was to find important genes that may contribute to the divergence of the two whitefly species at both genetic and expression level
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
