P1111
Comparative Genomics of Three Tetranychus Mites with Different Feeding Habits

Stephane Rombauts , VIB Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
Zaichao Zhang , VIB Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Gent, Belgium
Phuong Cao , VIB Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
Vladimir Zhurov , Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, LONDON, ON, Canada
Wannes Dermauw , University Ghent, GHENT, Belgium
Thomas Van Leeuwen , University Ghent, GHENT, Belgium
Toni Gabaldon , Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain
René Feyereisen , INRA, Sophia Antipolis cedex, France
Miodrag Grbic , Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Richard M. Clark , University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Pierre Rouzé , VIB Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
Yves Van de Peer , VIB - Ghent University, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Different organisms, even closely related can show quite different behavior when it comes to feeding.

Here we present the sequence and analysis of the genome of 3 mites of the genus Tetranychus, that are either polyphage, allophage or monophage. The genome of Tetratnychus urticae was already published earlier (2011), and was reported as a polyphage feeding on over 1000 different plants, among which some highly toxic ones. The allophage mite that was analyzed is Tetranychus evansi, feeding exclusively on solanacae. This species is also an invasive species originating from South America and gaining terrain in southern Europe. Tetratnuchus lintearius, is a pan-european species exclusively feeding on gorse (Ulex europaeus).

The aim of our project was to identify if there were genomic clues that could explain these behavior. Sequencing and genome annotation of the 3 mites revealed a high level of synteny, with large arrays of genes occurring in the same order across all 3 genomes. This high level of synteny allows us to focus on genome areas that seem different in terms of gene content.

Furthermore, as the feeding behavior is most contrasting, special focus has been given to those genes related to detoxification and olfactory genes. The latter set of genes is among the largely expanded gene families in T.urticae, suggesting a sensory aspect in their abilities to identify food.

Back to: Genome Mapping, Tagging & Characterization: Insects
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