Genetic Diversity, Population Structure and Species Delimitation of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Greenhouse whitefly)

Genetic diversity within Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood, 1856) remains largely unexplored, particularly within regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, T. vaporariorum samples were obtained from three locations in Kenya: Katumani, Kiambu and Kajiado counties. DNA extraction, PCR and Sanger sequencing were carried out on ~750 bp fragment of the mitochondria cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene from individual whiteflies. In addition, global populations were assessed and 19 haplotypes were identified, with three main haplotypes (Hp_19, Hp_10, Hp_011) circulating within Kenya. Measures of genetic diversity among T. vaporariorum populations resulted in haplotype diversity of 0.411, nucleo