Phylogenetic relationships of Aceria spp. (Acari, Eriophyoidea) from different Cirsium spp. in Serbia, based on mitochondrial COI sequences

Abstract

Plants of the genus Cirsium are invasive weeds that cause major ecological and economic damage in North America, Australia and New Zealand. The eriophyid mite Aceria anthocoptes (Nal.) has been investigated so far as a potential candidate for biological control of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. Detailed investigations have primarily focused on researching specificity to the host plant, and the effect on the plant vigour. It has so far been recorded on Cirsium arvense, C. heterophyllum (L.) Hill. and C. lanceolatum (L.) Scop. Here we present mitochondrial COI gene sequence data from Aceria spp collected on different host plants of the genus Cirsium: C. arvense, C. eriophorum, C. heterophyllum, C. creticum and C. rivulare. Sequence divergence (uncorrected p-distance) among Aceria spp. populations from different Cirsium spp. ranged from 11.3 to 23.7%, while for the outgroup it was 68.7%.The highest sequence divergence of more than 20% was recorded for A. cirsii from C. rivulare compared to the other four Aceria spp. populations. Sequence divergence of Aceria anthocoptes from C. arvense compared with Aceria sp. from C. heterophyllum was 17.5%, compared with Aceria sp. from C. creticum was 18.1% and compared with Aceria sp. from C. eriophorum was 11.3%. Sequence divergence of Aceria sp. from C. heterophyllum in regards to Aceria spp. from C. eriophorum and C. creticum was more than 15%, while between Aceria spp. from C. eriophorum and C. creticum it was 17.3%. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences (COI) confirmed the monophyly of the Aceria spp. from Cirsium spp. Considering the previous research of phenotypic differences, and these results of genetic distances, we suggest that Aceria anthocoptes represents a complex of four cryptic species inhabiting different host plants: Aceria anrhocoptes s.s. ex Cirsium arvense, Aceria cf. anthocoptes ex Cirsium heterophyllum, Aceria cf. anthocoptes ex Cirsium eriophorum and Aceria cf. anthocoptes ex Cirsium creticum.