Search

In order to reconstruct a robust phylogenetic relationship among major groups of Orthoptera and to explore the phylogenetic utility and performance of 16S Ribosomal RNA gene, complete sequences of 16S Ribosomal RNA were sequenced from 18 species in 9 families and 4 superfamilies of Orthoptera, and analyzed with other 40 species that have been completely sequenced. The result showed that the average length of 16S Ribosomal RNA was 1 310 bp. The positions of Tridactuloidea and Gryllotalpidae in Orthoptera were uncertain based on the 16S rRNA data, and the phylogenetic relationships of other major groups in Orthoptera were rather robust. Except for Oedipodidae and Gomphoceridae, Acrididae, Catantopidae, and Arcypteridae in Xia's taxonomic system were not monophyletic groups, and the genetic distances among the five groups were small. This indicates that the five families should be combined into one family. The genetic distances among Pamphagidae, Chrotogonidae, and Pyrgomorphidae were also small. The loops of 16S rRNA gene could provide more information than stems when they were used for phylogenetic analysis. Complete sequence of 16S rRNA gene can be used to reconstruct robust phylogenetic relationship at the taxonomic category of species, genera, and suborder in Orthoptera, but lack of resolution at family and superfamily levels.