Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon
<i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) is as a major pest of vegetable crops in Cameroon. These sap-sucking insects are the main vector of many viruses infecting plants, and several cryptic species have developed resistance against insecticides. Nevertheless, there is very little information...
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| author | Lanvin R. K. Kepngop Everlyne N. Wosula Massoud Amour Pierre G. T. Ghomsi Louise N. Wakam Germain Kansci James P. Legg |
| author_facet | Lanvin R. K. Kepngop Everlyne N. Wosula Massoud Amour Pierre G. T. Ghomsi Louise N. Wakam Germain Kansci James P. Legg |
| author_sort | Lanvin R. K. Kepngop |
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| description | <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) is as a major pest of vegetable crops in Cameroon. These sap-sucking insects are the main vector of many viruses infecting plants, and several cryptic species have developed resistance against insecticides. Nevertheless, there is very little information about whitefly species on vegetable crops and the endosymbionts that infect them in Cameroon. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity of whiteflies and their frequency of infection by endosymbionts in Cameroon. Ninety-two whitefly samples were collected and characterized using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) markers and Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP). The analysis of mtCOI sequences of whiteflies indicated the presence of six cryptic species (mitotypes) of <i>Bemisia tabaci</i>, and two distinct clades of <i>Bemisia afer</i> and <i>Trialeurodes vaporariorum</i>. <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> mitotypes identified included: MED on tomato, pepper, okra, and melon; and SSA1-SG1, SSA1-SG2, SSA1-SG5, SSA3, and SSA4 on cassava. The MED mitotype predominated in all regions on the solanaceous crops, suggesting that MED is probably the main phytovirus vector in Cameroonian vegetable cropping systems. The more diverse cassava-colonizing <i>B. tabaci</i> were split into three haplogroups (SNP-based grouping) including SSA-WA, SSA4, and SSA-ECA using KASP genotyping. This is the first time that SSA-ECA has been reported in Cameroon. This haplogroup is predominant in regions currently affected by the severe cassava mosaic virus disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak virus disease (CBSD) pandemics. Three endosymbionts including <i>Arsenophonus, Rickettsia</i>, and <i>Wolbachia</i> were present in female whiteflies tested in this study with varying frequency. <i>Arsenophonus</i>, which has been shown to influence the adaptability of whiteflies, was more frequent in the MED mitotype (75%). <i>Cardinium</i> and <i>Hamiltonella</i> were absent in all whitefly samples. These findings add to the knowledge on the diversity of whiteflies and their associated endosymbionts, which, when combined, influence virus epidemics and responses to whitefly control measures, especially insecticides. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-6e24eb33fff94dedb0e4cc89b05f10cc2025-08-20T01:55:33ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-08-0115965710.3390/insects15090657Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of CameroonLanvin R. K. Kepngop0Everlyne N. Wosula1Massoud Amour2Pierre G. T. Ghomsi3Louise N. Wakam4Germain Kansci5James P. Legg6Laboratory for Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Studies, Antimicrobial & Biocontrol Agents Unit (AmBcAU), Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé P.O. Box 337, CameroonInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 34441, TanzaniaInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 34441, TanzaniaLaboratory for Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Studies, Antimicrobial & Biocontrol Agents Unit (AmBcAU), Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé P.O. Box 337, CameroonLaboratory for Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Studies, Antimicrobial & Biocontrol Agents Unit (AmBcAU), Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé P.O. Box 337, CameroonLaboratory of Food Science and Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé P.O. Box 337, CameroonInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 34441, Tanzania<i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) is as a major pest of vegetable crops in Cameroon. These sap-sucking insects are the main vector of many viruses infecting plants, and several cryptic species have developed resistance against insecticides. Nevertheless, there is very little information about whitefly species on vegetable crops and the endosymbionts that infect them in Cameroon. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity of whiteflies and their frequency of infection by endosymbionts in Cameroon. Ninety-two whitefly samples were collected and characterized using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) markers and Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP). The analysis of mtCOI sequences of whiteflies indicated the presence of six cryptic species (mitotypes) of <i>Bemisia tabaci</i>, and two distinct clades of <i>Bemisia afer</i> and <i>Trialeurodes vaporariorum</i>. <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> mitotypes identified included: MED on tomato, pepper, okra, and melon; and SSA1-SG1, SSA1-SG2, SSA1-SG5, SSA3, and SSA4 on cassava. The MED mitotype predominated in all regions on the solanaceous crops, suggesting that MED is probably the main phytovirus vector in Cameroonian vegetable cropping systems. The more diverse cassava-colonizing <i>B. tabaci</i> were split into three haplogroups (SNP-based grouping) including SSA-WA, SSA4, and SSA-ECA using KASP genotyping. This is the first time that SSA-ECA has been reported in Cameroon. This haplogroup is predominant in regions currently affected by the severe cassava mosaic virus disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak virus disease (CBSD) pandemics. Three endosymbionts including <i>Arsenophonus, Rickettsia</i>, and <i>Wolbachia</i> were present in female whiteflies tested in this study with varying frequency. <i>Arsenophonus</i>, which has been shown to influence the adaptability of whiteflies, was more frequent in the MED mitotype (75%). <i>Cardinium</i> and <i>Hamiltonella</i> were absent in all whitefly samples. These findings add to the knowledge on the diversity of whiteflies and their associated endosymbionts, which, when combined, influence virus epidemics and responses to whitefly control measures, especially insecticides.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/657<i>Bemisia tabaci</i>KASP<i>Arsenophonus</i><i>Wolbachia</i><i>Rickettsia</i> |
| spellingShingle | Lanvin R. K. Kepngop Everlyne N. Wosula Massoud Amour Pierre G. T. Ghomsi Louise N. Wakam Germain Kansci James P. Legg Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon Insects <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> KASP <i>Arsenophonus</i> <i>Wolbachia</i> <i>Rickettsia</i> |
| title | Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity of Whiteflies Colonizing Crops and Their Associated Endosymbionts in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon |
| title_sort | genetic diversity of whiteflies colonizing crops and their associated endosymbionts in three agroecological zones of cameroon |
| topic | <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> KASP <i>Arsenophonus</i> <i>Wolbachia</i> <i>Rickettsia</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/657 |
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