RFLP analysis of ribosomal DNA in sibling species of spider mite, genus Panonychus (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) restriction fragment length of spider mites was analysed in three sibling species of genus Panonychus (P. mori, P. citri and P. ulmi) and Tetranychus urticae. Seventy-one fragments were detected by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) after Southern hybridization with two genomic rDNA probes of mouse. Percentages of shared fragments within species were larger than those among species, indicating that the variation of rDNAs was useful in phylogenetic studies of spider mite species. In a phenogram based on differences of the rDNA fragment length, the relationship among Panonychus species was compatible with the results of analysis based on the morphological characters.