Molecular characterization of Globodera pallida found in Japan using ribosomal DNA and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences

In Japan, Globodera pallida was first reported in Abashiri city, Hokkaido in 2015. Sequences of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cytb) from the Japanese population of G. pallida were compared with those of overseas populations. The representative sequences for rDNA and for cytb from the Japanese population had 100% identity with the sequences from G. pallida populations of North America and Europe in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis also showed that they clustered in the clade that included populations from Europe and North America. From these results, we concluded that the Japanese population of G. pallida is close to populations that have been reported in Europe and North America. Recent studies suggested that a few populations of G. pallida were introduced into Europe from South America and have spread to various places around the world, and according to our results, into Japan also.