MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETIC STUDY OF TEPHRITIDAE (INSECTA, DIPTERA) USING PARTIAL SEQUENCES OF THE MITOCHONDRIAL 16S RIBOSOMAL DNA

We analyzed sequence data from 925 base pairs within the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA from 34 tephritid species and two outgroup taxa. DN A sequences were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and sequen ced by the dideoxy chain-termination method. Patterns of nucleotide co mposition and substitution were assessed based on sequence comparison. Phylogenetic relationships among the included taxa were inferred usin g neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods. The trees were congr uent with the morphological classification and suggested the following phylogenetic relationships: (1) monophyly of the tribe Trypetini, s. str., excluding Parastenopa; (2) a possible sister group relationship between Platyparea and the subfamily Tephritinae; (3) a sister group r elationship between Hexachaeta and the tribe Toxotrypanini; (4) monoph yly of the Dacinae and possible relationship of Oedicarena to this sub family; (5) monophyly of the tribe Adramini; and (6) the nonmonophylet ic nature of the genus Rhagoletis. We propose that the 16S rDNA shows great promise for helping to create a phylogenetically based higher cl assification of the Tephritidae. (C) 1997 Academic Press.