Journal of Environmental Biology

Unravelling genetic diversity of whitefly species on different host plants from New Delhi

M. N. Rudra Gouda, S. Rajna, S. Gambhir and S. Subramanian*     

Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India

Received: 02 February 2024                   Revised: 07 March 2024                   Accepted: 08 April 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : entosubra@yahoo.co.in                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8337-9666

Abstract

Aim: This study investigates the genetic diversity and distribution of different species of whiteflies on 20 host plants vegetables (cucumber, summer squash, pumpkin, tomato, brinjal, okra), field crops (sunflower, lettuce, field bean, lobia), commercial crops (cotton, tobacco), ornamentals (chrysanthemum, bellflower, marigold), fruit crops (lemon), trees (mulberry, wild tamarind, ficus), and others (wild brinjal) in New Delhi.

Methodology: Genetic diversity was assessed through mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase-I gene-based molecular markers.

Results: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that whitefly Bemisia tabaci was the most prevalent pest species across the crops reported in this study. The other whitefly species, viz., Dialeurodes sp., Singhiella simplex, Aleuroclava sp., Tetraleurodes acaciae, Trialeurodes vapororium, and Aleurodicus floccissimus were reported as pests of different horticultural crops.

Interpretation: Genetic diversity of B. tabaci revealed that the genetic groups Asia II-1 and Asia II-7 were most prevalent, while Asia I was the minor one. Understanding the species composition and genetic diversity of whiteflies will help in devising appropriate control strategies.

Key words: Hosts, Molecular markers, mtCOI, New Delhi, Phylogenetic analysis, Whitefly diversity

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