Molecular Characterization of Bemisia tabaci Populations Using Mitochondrial COI Gene Sequencing
Swati P Shinde *
Department of Entomology, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra, India.
U. S. Kulkarni
Department of Entomology, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra, India.
D. B. Undirwade
Department of Entomology, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra, India.
M. P. Moharil
Biotechnology Centre, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra, India.
P. R. Shingote
Department of Biotechnology, Vasantrao Naik Government College of Biotechnology, Yavatmal, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra, India.
P. K. Rathod
Department of Entomology, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra, India.
S. D. Jadhao
Department of Soil Science, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Whiteflies associated with vegetable and cotton crops can be difficult to identify reliably using external morphology because Bemisia tabaci represents a cryptic species complex.
Aims: To assess the population dynamics and host association of whitefly populations across vegetable and cotton crops using molecular identification, and to evaluate species dominance to inform targeted integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
Study Design: Cross-sectional molecular diagnostic study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, during 2025.
Methodology: Whitefly specimens were collected from five host crops representing diverse botanical families, namely okra, tomato, cotton, brinjal and cucumber. Genomic DNA was extracted, followed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. Sequences were analysed using NCBI-BLAST for species identification and submitted to the GenBank database for accession assignment.
Results: Molecular diagnosis and sequence alignment confirmed that all whitefly populations collected across all host crops belonged to Bemisia tabaci, showing high sequence homology with GenBank reference entries. Corresponding GenBank accession numbers were assigned to sequences from each host. The consistent identification of B. tabaci across solanaceous, malvaceous and cucurbitaceous crops reflects its high polyphagy and broad host range in the surveyed ecosystem.
Conclusion: Bemisia tabaci is the dominant whitefly species infesting vegetable and cotton crops in the region. Rapid gene sequencing serves as an accurate diagnostic tool, though further fine-scale genetic resolution of cryptic biotypes (e.g., MEAM1, MED or Asia groups) is essential for tailoring biotype-specific IPM programmes.
Keywords: Bemisia tabaci, whitefly, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I, mtCOI, DNA barcoding, molecular identification, GenBank, host association, cryptic species complex, NCBI-BLAST