Genetic diversity of Diaphorina citri and its endosymbionts across east and south-east Asia

BACKGROUND: Diaphorina citri is the vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus', the most widespread pathogen associated huanglongbing, the most serious disease of citrus. To enhance our understanding of the distribution and origin of the psyllid, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structures of 24 populations in Asia and one from Florida based on the mtCOI gene. Simultaneously, genetic diversity and population structures of the primary endosymbiont (P-endosymbiont) Candidatus Carsonella ruddii' and secondary endosymbiont (S-endosymbiont) Candidatus Profftella armatura' of D. citri were determined with the housekeeping genes. RESULT: AMOVA analysis indicated that populations of D. citri and its endosymbionts in east and south-east Asia were genetically distinct from populations in Pakistan and Florida. Furthermore, P-endosymbiont populations displayed a strong geographical structure across east and south-east Asia, while low genetic diversity indicated the absence of genetic structure among the populations of D. citri and its S-endosymbiont across these regions. CONCLUSION: The Ca. C. ruddii' is more diverse and structured than the D. citri and the Ca. P. armatura' across east and south-east Asia. Multiple introductions of the psyllid have occurred in China. Management application for controlling the pest is proposed based on the genetic information of D. citri and its endosymbionts. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry