Diversity of Whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genetic Groups and its Implications on Management of this Invasive Pest

Abstract

Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is a global invasive pest. The intra-species diversity in the whitefly, B. tabaci, presents a case study of several genetic groups observed to occur across the globe. As per the current understanding, it is considered as a species complex comprising of 44 genetic groups. Phylogeographic analysis using mitochondrially encoded Cytochrome C Oxidase-I gene as a molecular marker has widely been used as a tool for identification of B . tabaci genetic groups across the world. The association of endosymbionts with the biological attributes among the B. tabaci species complex is also illustrated. Although, two whitefly genetic groups, MEAMl and MED have wide spread occurrence across the globe, Asian genetic groups like Asia I Asia I I 1 and Asia II-7 are predominant in India and other Asian countries. Studies on heat shock tolerance, host utilization, salivary effector proteins and salivary polyphenoloxidase and peroxides, virus transmission and profile of various detoxification enzymes may throw more light on the biological attributes of dominant Asian genetic groups.The utility of other genetic markers such as nuclear genes and possibly microsatellite markers may also be explored to fiarther support the hypothesis of invasiveness of certain whitefly genetic groups.