Evidence of sibling species between two host-associated populations of brown planthopper, N. lugens (stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidea) complex based on morphology and host-plant relationship studies.
Morphological and host-plant relationship studies were conducted to differentiate two sympatric populations of brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, one from rice (Oryza sativa) and the other from Leersia hexandra, a weed grass. In morphometric studies based on esterase activities, an UPGMA dendrogram using 17 quantitative morphological characters, including stridulatory organs (courtship signal-producing organs) between two sympatric populations of N. lugens, one from rice and the other from L. hexandra, a weed grass revealed that both populations were separated from each other. An out-group, N. bakeri, was found to be completely different from the two sympatric populations of N. lugens. Rice plants were best suited for the establishment of the rice-infesting population, and L. hexandra was a favourable host for the Leersia-infesting population. The individuals derived from one host did not thrive on the other host, as shown by a significant reduction in survival and nymphal development, ovipositional preferences, ovipositional response, and egg hatchability. Therefore, morphological and host-plant relationship studies indicate that rice-associated population with high esterase activities and L. heaxandra-associated population with low esterase activities are two closely related sibling species.
Department of Crop science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. alatif1965@yahoo.com
Mohammad Abdul
MA
Latif
Mohd Yosoh
MY
Omar
Mohd Yusop
MY
Rafii
Mohammad Abdul
MA
Malek
Soon Guan
SG
Tan
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D004950:Esterases / Q000032:analysis; D005298:Fertility; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva; D008136:Longevity; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012275:Oryza; D010058:Oviposition; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006109:Poaceae; D013045:Species Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013534:Survival; D061350:Sympatry
D004950:Esterases
Biological species; Brown plant hopper complex; Host–plant relation; Morphology