Genetic variation in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in China inferred from mitochondrial COI gene sequence

• Main Authors: Jianhong LI, Feng ZHAO, Yong Soo CHOI, Iksoo KIM, Hung Dae SOHN, Byung Rae JIN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2006-07-01
• Series: European Journal of Entomology
• Subjects: diamondback moths; plutella xylostella; insect pest; mitochondrial dna; coi gene; geographic variation
• Online Access: https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200603-0016_Genetic_variation_in_the_diamondback_moth_Plutella_xylostella_Lepidoptera_Yponomeutidae_in_China_inferred_f.php
• ISSN: 1210-5759; 1802-8829

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a notorious insect pest of cruciferous plants. To examine the pattern and magnitude of genetic variation in this species in China a portion of the mitochondrial (mt) COI gene of P. xylostella, collected at six Chinese and two Korean localities, which cover ~2,151,600 km2, was sequenced. Sequence analysis of the 681-bp mt COI gene from 80 individuals resulted in 16 haplotypes, ranging in sequence divergence from 0.1% (one nucleotide) to 0.9% (six nucleotides). One nucleotide position among 16 variable sites was a transversional substitution and the remaining positions were transitional substitutions. No position resulted in amino acid substitution. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all haplotypes were highly interrelated and no discernable haplotype group was found. From a geographical perspective, most haplotypes were found singly at one or two localities, with three haplotypes widely distributed. Little genetic differentiation (FST = -0.038-0.309) and a high rate of female migration (Nm = 1.117 - infinite) between Chinese populations suggests that dispersal over long distances is a major factor in the demography of this species.