DNA Barcoding of Bemisia tabaci Complex (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Reveals Southerly Expansion of the Dominant Whitefly Species on Cotton in Pakistan

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104485
• Publication Date: 2014-08-06T17:53:49Z
• Authors: Muhammad Ashfaq; Paul D. N. Hebert; M. Sajjad Mirza; Arif M. Khan; Shahid Mansoor; Ghulam S. Shah; Yusuf Zafar
• Keywords: DNA Barcoding; Whitefly; Species complex; Lineage (genetic)

Background Although whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci complex) are an important pest of cotton in Pakistan, its taxonomic diversity is poorly understood. As DNA barcoding effective tool for resolving species complexes and analyzing distributions, we used this approach to analyze genetic the B. complex map distribution lineages growing areas Pakistan. Methods/Principal Findings Sequence barcode region (mtCOI-5′) was examined 593 from Pakistan determine number whitefly their distributions cotton-growing Punjab Sindh provinces. These new records were integrated with another 173 sequences tabaci, most India, better understand regional diversity. The Barcode Index Number (BIN) System assigned 766 15 BINs, including nine Representative specimens each BIN analyzed mtCOI-3′ allow assignment one putative recognized on basis sequence variation gene region. This analysis revealed presence Asia II 1, Middle East-Asia Minor 5, 7, a lineage "Pakistan". first two taxa found both Sindh, but 1 only detected while 7 "Pakistan" present Punjab. haplotype networks showed that haplotypes implicated transmission leaf curl virus, occurred India Conclusions barcodes successfully discriminated cryptic complex. dominant shared by previously restricted Punjab, now southern Sindh; southward spread may have serious implications plantations