Identification of Chinese populations of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) by analyzing ribosomal ITS1 sequence*

Spreading of Bemisia tabaci B biotype has had a large impact on the production of vegetables, ornamental and fiber crops in many countries of the world since the 1990s. This study analyzes the ribosomal ITS1 sequence (∼520 bp) to distinguish genetic difference of B. tabaci from representative different geographical populations in China. Phylogenetic analysis shows that populations of B. tabaci from Beijing and Shandong Province are of biotype B, and populations of B. tabaci from sweet potato in Fujian Province and pumpkin in Guangxi, China, belong to two different non-B biotypes and have a geographical origin of Asia.