The mitochondrial genome of the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) lineage introduced in Europe. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moreira, Cláudia; van Asch, Barbara; Fonseca, Luís; Pereira-Castro, Isabel; Silva, Raquel; Azevedo, Luísa; Mota, Manuel; Abrantes, Isabel; Amorim, António; Pereira, Filipe
• Is Part Of: Mitochondrial DNA. Volume 25:Number 6(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 420
• Page End: 421
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Mitochondrial DNA -- Periodicals; Mitochondrial DNA -- Abnormalities -- Periodicals; Nucleotide sequence -- Periodicals; Gene mapping -- Periodicals; 572.869
• DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2013.809438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1940-1736

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The pinewood nematode (PWN) <italic>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</italic> is the causative agent of pine wilt disease and the greatest biological threat to conifer forests worldwide. Here we describe the near-complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence (12, 945 bp) of the PWN lineage recently introduced in Europe. The absence of polymorphisms across the mtDNA of three Portuguese isolates suggests that a single mitochondrial lineage was introduced in southwestern Europe. We also found that Portuguese isolates have an incomplete stop codon (TA) at <italic>COX3</italic>, while the reference mtDNA from a South Korean isolate has a complete stop codon (TAA). Moreover, two insertion/deletion polymorphisms change the ND4 protein in a stretch of seven amino acids, and a polymorphic mononucleotide repeat alters the predicted structure of the tyrosine tRNA in different geographical isolates. Overall, the new PWN mtDNA sequence provides a basis for studying the European dispersion of this important invasive species.</p> </abstract>