Karyotype variations in Italian populations of the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

In this study, we present cytogenetic data regarding 66 Myzus persicae strainscollected in different regions of Italy. Together with the most common 2n= 12karyotype, the results showed different chromosomal rearrangements: 2n= 12 withA1–3 reciprocal translocation, 2n= 13 with A1–3 reciprocal translocation and A3fission, 2n= 13 with A3 fission, 2n= 13 with A4 fission, 2n= 14 with X andA3 fissions. A 2n= 12–13 chromosomal mosaicism has also been observed.Chromosomal aberrations (and in particular all strains showing A1–3 reciprocaltranslocation) are especially frequent in strains collected on tobacco plants,and we suggest that a clastogenic effect of nicotine, further benefited by theholocentric nature of aphid chromosomes, could be at the basis of the observedphenomenon