Specialization on Ficus Supported by Genetic Divergence and Morphometrics in Sympatric Host-Populations of the Camellia Aphid, Aphis aurantii

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Xiaolei Huang¹  Cui Chen²  Junaid Ali Siddiqui²  Yangxue Wu²  Qiang Li²  Zhentao Cheng²  Congcong Lu²  Qian Liu²  Yonghui Li² 

[1] Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China;State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China;

关键词: adaptation;    host plant;    population divergence;    phylogeny;    speciation;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fevo.2021.786450

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Adaptation to different host plants is considered to be an important driver of the divergence and speciation of herbivorous insects. The application of molecular data and integrated taxonomic practices in recent years may contribute to our understanding of population divergence and speciation, especially for herbivorous insects considered to be polyphagous. Aphis aurantii is an important agricultural and forestry pest with a broad range of host plants. In this study, samples of A. aurantii feeding on different host plants in the same geographical area were collected, and their population genetic divergence and morphological difference were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis and haplotype network analysis based on five genes revealed that the population on Ficus exhibited significantly genetic divergence from populations on other host plants, which was also supported by the statistical analysis based on measurements of 38 morphological characters. Our results suggest that A. aurantii has undergone specialized evolution on Ficus, and the Ficus population may represent a lineage that is experiencing ongoing sympatric speciation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown