Segregation of phenotypic characteristics in hybrids of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

Author(s)

Pinotti, Heloisa ^[1] ; Alevi, Kaio Cesar Chaboli ^{[1, 2]} ; de Oliveira, Jader ^[1] ; Ravazi, Amanda ^[2] ; Madeira, Fernanda Fernandez ^[3] ; Reis, Yago Visinho dos ^[2] ; de Oliveira, Ana Beatriz Bortolozo ^[3] ; de Azeredo-Oliveira, Maria Tercilia Vilela ^[3] ; da Rosa, Joao Aristeu ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho UN, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Rodovia Araraquara Jau Km 1, BR-14801902 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho UN, Inst Biociencias, Rua Dr Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin 250, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho UN, Inst Biociencias, Letras & Ciencias Exatas, Rua Cristovao Colombo 2265, BR-15054000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION; v. 91, JUL 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

There are currently 156 species, grouped into 18 genera and five tribes included in the subfamily Triatominae. All of them are potential vectors of Chagas disease. Triatoma is paraphyletic and the species of this genus have been grouped into complexes and subcomplexes. Triatoma brasiliensis complex is a monophyletic group composed of eight taxa: T. b. brasiliensis, T. b. macromelanosoma, T. juazeirensis, T. sherlocki, T. petrocchiae, T. lenti, T. bahiensis, T. melanica. Experimental crosses have helped in systematic, taxonomic and evolutionary issues of these vectors. Based on this, we carried out experimental crosses between T. lenti and four other species of the T. brasiliensis complex and analyzed the segregation pattern of phenotypic characteristics of T. lenti, T. b. brasiliensis, T. b. macromelasoma, T. juazeirensis and T. melanica in the hybrids. The hybrids resulting from the crosses between T. b. brasiliensis female x T. lenti male, T. juazeirensis female x T. lenti male, and T. melanica female x T. lenti male showed segregation of characteristics of both parental species. On the other hand, the hybrids between T. lenti female x T. juazeirensis male, T. b. macromelasoma female x T. lenti male, and T. lenti female x T. melanica male showed a specific pattern of T. lenti, T. lenti and T. melanica, respectively. Thus, the pattern of segregation of morphological characteristics between species of the T. brasiliensis complex was characterized. These results highlight the importance of integrative taxonomy for the correct identification of Chagas disease vectors grouped in the T. brasiliensis complex if natural hybridization events occur. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/05015-7 - Study of hybridization in Triatoma sordida (Stal, 1859) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae): evolutionary dynamics, reproductive viability, morpho-molecular characterization and its taxonomic implications
• Grantee: Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral