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About the Authors:
Xiaodong Bai
Affiliation: Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Wei Zhang
Affiliation: Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Lucia Orantes
Affiliation: Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Tae-Hwan Jun
Affiliations Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Services and Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Omprakash Mittapalli
Affiliation: Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
M. A. Rouf Mian
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Services and Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Andrew P. Michel
* E-mail: [email protected]
Affiliation: Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Introduction
Aphids are among the most important and intensely studied insect taxa. Species within the Aphididae represent model systems to study basic and broad biological questions including speciation and adaptation [1], [2], modification of reproduction strategies [3], and commensal linkages with bacterial symbionts [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]. Additional research has focused on applied aspects of aphid biology, as some aphids are seen as important pests of agricultural and horticultural commodities [10]. Over 450 species within the family Aphididae feed on these commodities, and about 100 species are considered serious economic pests [11], [12]. Most aphids have a worldwide distribution and are highly successful invaders, benefited by asexual reproduction capability, rapid adaptability and phenotypic plasticity [1], [13], [14]. The large number of pest species within the Aphididae is no doubt aided by the aphid's complex life history and biology [11], [15].
Given the importance of the Aphididae, it is no surprise that substantial molecular resources exist for a few species [16]. Expressed sequenced tag (EST) libraries have been generated for at least 5 aphid species [17], [18], [19],...