South and Southeast Asia endure high vegetable production losses due to begomovirus diseases mainly transmitted by the insect vector, whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Control over the spread of virus infection can be achieved through a better understanding of genetic diversity among B. tabaci. A total of 64 populations of B. tabaci collected from Tamil Nadu (India), Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia were investigated based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (coxI) sequences. Populations from Tamil Nadu are distributed into three clades (Asia I, Asia II 7, and Asia II 8), whereas Indonesian populations settle along with Asia I population of India in the phylogenetic tree. Vietnam populations align with the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) clade, and interestingly MEAM1 invades northern Vietnam quite recently. Samples from Thailand made a unique clade between the outgroup and the remaining B. tabaci, representing the possibility of a new subspecies. AMOVA analysis among populations from various districts in Tamil Nadu exhibits significant differences, which represent each district's individuality. This study proves that the use of coxI as a marker for molecular identification of B. tabaci can provide a better estimate of diversity. We provide important clues for developing insight into the genetic structure of B. tabaci, and suggest strategies for control.
Keywords: Bemisia tabaci; haplotype network; mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I; phylogeny; population structure.