Weak genetic structure of flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa in China revealed by mitochondrial genomes

Xinzhi Liu; Jia He; Zhenyong Du; Rong Zhang; Wanzhi Cai; Hu Li

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123301

Weak genetic structure of flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa in China revealed by mitochondrial genomes

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Mar 15:231:123301. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123301. Epub 2023 Jan 16.

Authors

Xinzhi Liu¹, Jia He², Zhenyong Du¹, Rong Zhang³, Wanzhi Cai¹, Hu Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China.
² Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Institute of Plant Protection, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Yinchuan, China; Ningxia Key Lab of Plant Disease and Pest Control, Yinchuan 750002, China.
³ Institute of Plant Protection, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Yinchuan, China; Ningxia Key Lab of Plant Disease and Pest Control, Yinchuan 750002, China.
⁴ Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China. Electronic address: tigerleecau@hotmail.com.

PMID: 36657550
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123301

Abstract

Human activities facilitate long-distance dispersal of insects beyond their native range. In particular, the transportation of live plants offers diffusion opportunities for some insects with weak flight abilities. The increase in urban afforestation also help insect reside in urban habitats. The flower thrips, Frankliniella intonsa, is a widespread pest that causes serious damage to many economically important plants. Human activities are likely to facilitate the dispersal of this pest, however, the population genetic structure of this pest remains unclear. Herein, high-throughput sequencing was used to obtain 149 whole mitochondrial genomes of flower thrips from 28 geographic populations in China. Population genetic analyses, phylogenetic reconstruction, and inference of demographic history were then performed. A weak genetic structure was found among all populations across large geographic distance in China, in which five mitochondrial haplotype lineages were resolved. One of the lineages was identified to be shared among most samples collected from central city areas, which may be derived from the surrounding areas. Demographic history analyses suggested a recent population expansion of F. intonsa. Overall, the present population genetic structure of flower thrips in China may be promoted by human-mediated urban afforestation across the country.

Keywords: Frankliniella intonsa; Mitochondrial genome; Population genetic structure.

MeSH terms

Animals
Flowers
Genome, Mitochondrial*
Humans
Insecta / genetics
Phylogeny
Plants / genetics
Thysanoptera* / genetics