title: Genetic study of Mediterranean and South American populations of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Povolny, 1994) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using ribosomal and mitochondrial markers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Before its introduction into Europe at the end of 2006, Tuta absoluta (Povolny, 1994) was confined solely to South America. Currently, this invasive pest is well established in various European and Mediterranean countries, causing important economic losses to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crops. In order to study the genetic variability of this pest, 23 Mediterranean and ten native South American populations were analysed with nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The internal transcribed spacers 1 (ITS1) and 2 (ITS2) of rDNA and a fragment in the mtDNA gene encoding cytochrome oxidase I (COI) were PCR amplified and sequenced in T. absoluta. Sequence analyses consistently revealed neither intrapopulation nor interpopulation variation in either genomic region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High genetic homogeneity was detected in T. absoluta populations from the Mediterranean Basin and South America, based on mtCOI and ITS rDNA sequence analysis. A single genetic type was identified in this pest.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, IBV, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain. dina.cifuentes@upct.es
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chynoweth
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bielza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000469:parasitology*; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D009036:Moths / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D013020:South America; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D019476:Insect Proteins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV