MORPHOMETRICS OF BEMISIA TABACI (GENNADIUS) (HEMIPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) SPECIES COMPLEX FROM COTTON

Abstract

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is now recognized as a species complex and many of its genetic groups are important agricultural pests. B. tabaci specimens collected from three cotton cultivars were subjected to genetic characterization and morphometric studies.  The cotton cultivars selected were namely HS1300, P86 and LRA5166. Genetic diversity in the populations using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (mtCO-1) sequences revealed the presence of three genetic groups namely Asia 1, Asia II 1 and Asia II 7 groups. For morphometrics, 62 morphological characters on puparia were considered. The principal component analysis revealed a wide range of morphological variations in the critical taxonomic characters among the populations. Contrastingly, puparial length was more in Asia II 1 genetic group whereas breadth of puparia, length of antenna, lingula and vasiform orifice were more in Asia I genetic group. Thus, this study adds to our knowledge of the host-associated morphological variations and genetic diversity of B. tabaci populations.