Tools and recent progress in studying gene flow and population genetics of the Bemisia tabaci sibling species group

Abstract

The use of molecular markers in the Bemisia tabaci complex has been a definitive step in identifying the enormous genetic diversity hidden behind the morphological likeness among its members (see Gill and Brown, Chapter 1), and in determining interrelationships. The presence of biologically-based biotypes in B. tabaci was first realized in the 1950s by Bird (Bird 1957; Bird and Maramorosch 1978), who found that morphologically indistinguishable populations of the whitefly differed substantially in biological and ecological traits, including host range, adaptability to different hosts, and plant virus-transmission efficiencies. Later studies used ecological and biological experiments to examine mating compatibilities as well as differences among distinct populations in phytotoxic induction, insecticide resistance, behavior (Brown et al. 1995b). © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010.