Cross-mating experiments detect reproductive compatibility between Triatoma sherlocki and other members of the Triatorna brasiliensis species complex

Author(s)

Correia, Nathalia ^[1] ; Almeida, Carlos E. ^[2] ; Lima-Neiva, Vanessa ^[1] ; Gumiel, Marcia ^[1] ; Dornak, L. Lynnette ^{[3, 4]} ; Lima, Marli M. ^[3] ; Medeiros, Livia M. O. ^[2] ; Mendonca, Vagner J. ^[2] ; da Rosa, Joao A. ^[2] ; Costa, Jane ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Oswaldo Cruz Fiocruz, Lab Biodiversidade Entomol, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[2] UNESP, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Ciencias Biol, Araraquara - Brazil

^[3] Inst Oswaldo Cruz Fiocruz, Lab Ecoepidemiol Doenca Chagas, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[4] Univ Idaho, Dept Fisheries & Wildlife Sci, Moscow, ID 83843 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Acta Tropica; v. 128, n. 1, p. 162-167, OCT 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 19

Abstract

Phylogenetic approaches based on mitochondrial DNA variation (fragments of Cyt B and 16S ribosomal RNA) have revealed Triatoma sherlocki as the most recent species addition to the Triatoma brasiliensis species complex; a monophyletic group which includes T. brasiliensis, Triatoma melanica, and Triatoma juazeirensis. T. sherlocki is the most differentiated among all species of this complex: it is unable to fly, possesses longer legs than the other members, and has reddish tonality in some parts of its exochorion. We question whether these species are reproductively compatible because of this pronounced morphological differentiation, and therefore, we present a series of cross breeding experiments that test compatibility between T. sherlocki and other members of the T. brasiliensis complex. We extended our analyses to include crosses between T. sherlocki and Triatoma lend, because the latter has been suggested as a possible member of this complex. T. sherlocki male x T. lend female pairs failed to produce hybrids. All other crosses of T. sherlocki and members of T. brasiliensis species complex, as well as backcrosses, produced viable offspring through the third generation. This study stresses the importance of searching for the features that may isolate members of the T. brasiliensis species complex. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/22378-0 - Ecologic niche modeling and genetic structure of Triatoma sherlocki (Triatominae: Hemiptera) in the Bahia State, Brazil: eco-epidemiologic implications
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo de Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 10/17027-0 - Ecological niche modeling and genetic structure of Triatoma sherlocki (Triatominae: Hemiptera) in Bahia state, Brazil: eco-epidemiological implications
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo de Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral