Open AccessGenome-wide analyses of the Bemisia tabaci species complex reveal contrasting patterns of admixture and complex demographic histories
Author(s) -
Samia Elfékih,
Paul D. Etter,
Wee Tek Tay,
Matteo Fumagalli,
Karl Gordon,
Eric A. Johnson,
Paul De Barro
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0190555
Subject(s) - introgression , biology , species complex , gene flow , invasive species , range (aeronautics) , whitefly , evolutionary biology , agricultural pest , transmission (telecommunications) , quarantine , genome , introduced species , pest analysis , ecology , phylogenetic tree , genetics , gene , genetic variation , botany , materials science , engineering , agricultural science , electrical engineering , composite material
Once considered a single species, the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci , is a complex of numerous morphologically indistinguishable species. Within the last three decades, two of its members (MED and MEAM1) have become some of the world's most damaging agricultural pests invading countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas and affecting a vast range of agriculturally important food and fiber crops through both feeding-related damage and the transmission of numerous plant viruses. For some time now, researchers have relied on a single mitochondrial gene and/or a handful of nuclear markers to study this species complex. Here, we move beyond this by using 38,041 genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, and show that the two invasive members of the complex are closely related species with signatures of introgression with a third species (IO). Gene flow patterns were traced between contemporary invasive populations within MED and MEAM1 species and these were best explained by recent international trade. These findings have profound implications for delineating the B . tabaci species status and will impact quarantine measures and future management strategies of this global pest.