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On species delimitation, hybridization and population structure of cassava whitefly in Africa.

ABSTRACT: The Bemisia cassava whitefly complex includes species that cause severe crop damage through vectoring cassava viruses in eastern Africa. Currently, this whitefly complex is divided into species and subgroups (SG) based on very limited molecular markers that do not allow clear definition of species and population structure. Based on 14,358 genome-wide SNPs from 62 Bemisia cassava whitefly individuals belonging to sub-Saharan African species (SSA1, SSA2 and SSA4), and using a well-curated mtCOI gene database, we show clear incongruities in previous taxonomic approaches underpinned by effects from pseudogenes. We show that the SSA4 species is nested within SSA2, and that populations of the SSA1 species comprise well-defined south-eastern (Madagascar, Tanzania) and north-western (Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi) putative sub-species. Signatures of allopatric incipient speciation, and the presence of a 'hybrid zone' separating the two putative sub-species were also detected. These findings provide insights into the evolution and molecular ecology of a highly cryptic hemipteran insect complex in African, and allow the systematic use of genomic data to be incorporated in the development of management strategies for this cassava pest.

SUBMITTER: Elfekih S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8041820 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Outbreaks of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci species in East and Central Africa, have become increasingly prevalent during the previous 25 years and are responsible for driving the spread of plant-virus diseases, such as cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown steak disease. Epidemics of these diseases have expanded their ranges over the same period, spreading from Uganda into other sub-Saharan African countries. It was hypothesised that a highly abundant 'invader' population of B. tabaci was responsible for spreading these diseases from Uganda to neighbouring countries and potentially hybridising with the resident cassava B. tabaci populations. Here, we test this hypothesis by investigating the molecular identities of the highly abundant cassava B. tabaci populations from their supposed origin in Uganda, to the northern, central, eastern and coastal regions of Tanzania. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) barcoding sequences and nuclear microsatellite markers were used to analyse the population genetic diversity and structure of 2734 B. tabaci collected from both countries and in different agroecological zones. The results revealed that: (i) the putative SSA1 species is structured according to countries, so differ between them. (ii) Restricted gene flow occurred between SSA1-SG3 and both other SSA1 subgroups (SG1 and SG2), even in sympatry, demonstrating strong barriers to hybridization between those genotypes. (iii) Not only B. tabaci SSA1-(SG1 and SG2) was found in highly abundant (outbreak) numbers, but B. tabaci SSA1-SG3 and the Indian Ocean (IO) species were also recorded in high numbers in several sites in Tanzania. (iv) The SSA1-(SG1 and SG2) species was distributed in both countries, but in Tanzania, the B. tabaci IO and SSA1-SG3 species predominated. These data confirm that multiple, local Tanzanian B. tabaci species produce highly abundant populations, independent of the spread of the putative invasive B. tabaci SSA1-(SG1 and SG2) populations.

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On species delimitation, hybridization and population structure of cassava whitefly in Africa.

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