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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #370044
Research Project: Epidemiology, Vector-Host Plant Interactions, and Biology of Vegetable and Cucurbit Viruses

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Genome of the African Cassava Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and their distribution and genetic diversity across eighteen cassava-growing countries in Africa

Author
item CHEN, WENBO - Boyce Thompson Institute
item WOSULA, EVERLYNE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item Hasegawa, Daniel
item CASINGA, CLERISSE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item SHIRIMA, RUDOLPH - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item FIABOE, KOMI - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item HANNA, RACHID - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item FOSTO, APOLLIN - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item GEORGEN, GEORGE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item TAMO, MANUELE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item MAHUKU, GEORGE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item MURITHI, HARUN - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item TRIPATHI, LEENA - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item MWARE, BERNARD - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item KUMAR, LAVA - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item NTAWURUHUNGA, PHENEAS - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item MOYO, CHRIS - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item YOMENI, MARIE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item BOAHEN, STEVE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item EDET, MICHAEL - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item AWOYALE, WASIU - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item Wintermantel, William - Bill
item Ling, Kai-Shu
item LEGG, JAMES - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item FEI, ZHANGJUN - Boyce Thompson Institute

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Cassava is a staple food crop grown in many regions of Africa. However, several whitefly-transmitted viruses, including cassava mosaic virus (CMV) and cassava brown streak virus (CBSV), are responsible for the loss of millions of tons of cassava, estimated to be the equivalent of US$1 billion annually. The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci consists of a complex of morphologically indistinguishable species, with B. tabaci Sub-Saharan Africa - East and Central Africa (SSA-ECA) being the primary whitefly population that is associated with the rapid spread of CMV and CBSV. Here, we report the first draft genome of B. tabaci SSA-ECA, which in comparison to another member of the whitefly species complex, B. tabaci MEAM1, has a similar number of protein-coding genes, but fewer genes that are predicted to be related to plant detoxification. Further analysis on cassava-colonizing whiteflies collected from 18 of the major cassava producing countries in Africa confirmed the existence of six major whitefly populations that were linked by gene flow across the African continent. The data provide insight to understanding the genetics that drive whitefly vector populations and their distribution in major cassava producing areas in Africa.

Technical Abstract: The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is a notorious virus vector that affects global agriculture production and consists of a complex of morphologically indistinguishable species. In Africa, several whitefly-transmitted viruses, including cassava mosaic virus (CMV) and cassava brown streak virus (CBSV), are responsible for the loss of millions of tons of cassava, estimated to be the equivalent of US$1 billion annually. Here, we report the draft genome B. tabaci Sub-Saharan Africa - East and Central Africa (SSA-ECA), the whitefly population that is associated with the rapid spread of CMV and CBSV. The SSA-ECA draft genome is 513.7 Mb and contains 15,084 protein-coding genes, which is similar to that of B. tabaci MEAM1, but has fewer predicted genes related to detoxification and xenobiotic compounds. Further genetic analysis was conducted on 243 cassava-colonizing whiteflies collected from 18 of the major cassava growing countries in Africa and analyzed using NextRAD sequencing. Population genomic analyses confirmed the existence of six major populations linked by gene flow and inferred the distribution patterns of these populations across the African continent. Overall, these data provide valuable resources for studying whitefly biology and for the development of strategies to manage whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting cassava production.