Competitive ability and fitness differences between two introduced populations of the invasive whitefly Bemisia tabaci Q in China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Our long-term field survey revealed that the Cardinium infection rate in Bemisia tabaci Q (also known as biotype Q) population was low in Shandong, China over the past few years. We hypothesize that (1) the Cardinium-infected (C+) B. tabaci Q population cannot efficiently compete with the Cardinium-uninfected (C-) B. tabaci Q population; (2) no reproductive isolation may have occurred between C+ and C-; and (3) the C- population has higher fitness than the C+ population.

Methodology and results

To reveal the differences in competitive ability and fitness between the two introduced populations (C+ and C-), competition between C+ and C- was examined over several generations. Subsequently, the reproductive isolation between C+ and C- was studied by crossing C+ with C

SUBMITTER: Fang YW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4063783 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature