Toroitich, F., Navajas, M., Knapp, M., 2008.
Molecular analysis of the genetic diversity of Tetranychus evansi Baker, Pritchard from Kenya and Tanzania. Bertrand, M., Kreiter, S., McCoy, K.D., Migeon, A., Navajas, M., Tixier, M.-S., Vial, L., Integrative Acarology, Montpellier, European Association of Acarolgists: poster.
Abstract
The red spider mite Tetranychus evansi is a widespread pest of solanaceous plants in Kenya. This mite is an invasive
species in Africa and Europe. It has been also reported in several parts of Asia. Populations of this pest were collected from seven localities of Kenya and three localities of Tanzania where we had no official record of this species before. Samples were collected mostly on Solanaceae but also on other plants that appeared as hosts of T. evansi in Kenya. Mites of different origins were analysed by PCR and sequencing of a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA coding for the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) (ca. 950 nucleotides) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal genes (ca. 1200 nucleotides) was done. Previous studies had suggested that a single source of mites might have colonized the African region and in this study we investigate the genetic variability between T. evansi populations from these two countries of East Africa and on different host plants. The significance of this study for pest management practices is discussed.
