Genetic variation and endosymbionts of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations in Turkey

Abstract Greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a phytophagous insect that causes significant economic losses in agricultural production. This study aimed to investigate the genetic structure of T . vaporariorum populations collected from various provinces in Turkey, as well as their associated endosymbionts. Universal primer pair targeting the COI gene regions were utilized to assess the genetic structure of these populations. Additionally, specific primers targeting the 16S and 23S gene regions were employed to identify endosymbiotic bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no genetic divergence among T. vaporariorum populations sampled in Turkey, and only limited sequence variation was observed relative to reference populations from other countries.The secondary endosymbiont structure was divided into two distinct groups: those with and those without Hamiltonella . A geographical variation in endosymbiont composition was observed, with western populations generally lacking Hamiltonella , while eastern populations were co-infected with both Arsenophonus and Hamiltonella . These findings contribute to a better understanding of the regional patterns in T. vaporariorum populations and suggest that combining genetic and endosymbiont data may be useful for future ecological and management-related studies.