Journal of Environmental Biology

Genetic diversity and species prevalence revealed by Mitochondrial COI- DNA sequence of thrips population in cotton

V.S. Nagrare¹*, S.P. Gawande¹, D.T. Nagrale¹, V.S. Thakare¹, D.J. Baghele², V.K. Biradar², A.P. Nikoshe¹, M. Meshram¹, N.G. Narkhedkar¹ and V.N. Waghmare¹

¹ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur-440 010, India

²College of Agriculture, Nagpur - 440 001, India

Received: 15 April 2024                   Revised: 04 June 2024                   Accepted: 30 July 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : vs.nagrare@gmail.com                    *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9387-0667

Abstract

Aim: To elucidate the population genetic diversity and species prevalence of thrips on cotton.

Methodology: Thrips species were identified utilizing both mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence analysis and morphology-based keys.

Results: Thrips palmi Karny, Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Ayyaria chaetophora Karny, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood and Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus Hood identified from collected samples. The distribution analysis revealed that T. palmi stands out as the most abundant and prevalent species, constituting a substantial majority (74%) and occupying a pervasive presence across most cotton-growing locations. The phylogenetic analysis, relying on COI sequences, clearly categorized these five species into four distinct major clades. T. hawaiiensis and R. cruentatus were placed within the first clade, while the second clade featured Scirtothrips dorsalis. The third clade comprised the abundant T. palmi, and the fourth clade accommodated A. chaetophora.

Interpretation: The study highlighted genetic diversity of five species of thrips, accentuating the emergence of T. palmi as a dominant pest in cotton, an observation not previously reported.

Key words: Cotton thrips, Genetic diversity, MtCOI, Phylogenetic analysis, Species prevalence

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