Resolution of inter and intra-species relationships of the West Indian fruit fly Anastrepha obliqua

Authors: SCALLY, MARK - The University Of Texas-Pan American; INTO, FRITZ - The University Of Texas-Pan American; Thomas, Donald; RUIZ-ARCE, RAUL - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); BARR, NORMAN - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), National Wildlife Center; SCHUENZEL, ERIN - The University Of Texas-Pan American

Submitted to: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2016
Publication Date: 4/25/2016
Citation: Scally, M., Into, F., Thomas, D.B., Ruiz-Arce, R., Barr, N., Schuenzel, E.L. 2016. Resolution of inter and intra-species relationships of the West Indian fruit fly Anastrepha obliqua. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 101:286-293.

Interpretive Summary: The West Indian fruit fly is a major pest of mangos exported to the United States. It poses a threat to the stone-fruit industry in the southern U.S. Fruit entering the USA must be free of pest species but it is often difficult to identify fly larvae to species. Embargoes against commercial commodity shipments requires a definitive identification of a pest infestation. Definitive identification of fruit fly larvae to species level can be accomplished using DNA technology. This work compared the genetic makeup of eleven species related to the West Indian fruit fly. It was discovered that the West Indian fruit fly is more variable genetically than related species yet it shares certain genes with the South American fruit fly. One explanation is that there has been hybridization between these two species in the recent past.

Technical Abstract: The West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an economically important pest that inhabits areas of South and Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean with occasional infestations in the southern United States. We examine intra-specific variation within Anastrepha obliqua as well as interspecific relationships to other Anastrepha species using a multi-locus data set comprising 9 loci (7 nuclear, 2 mitochondrial) with 105 specimens sequenced. The results based on a concatenated set of nuclear loci strongly support the monophyly of Anastrepha obliqua and most of the other species previously identified by morphology. A split between Peruvian Anastrepha obliqua samples and those from other locations was also identified. These results contrast with prior findings of relationships within A. obliqua based on mitochondrial data, as we found a marked discrepancy between nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenetics. These analyses suggest that introgression, particularly between Anastrepha obliqua and fraterculus species, may be one explanation for the discrepancy and the high mitochondrial diversity reported for A. obliqua could be the result of incomplete lineage sorting.