Intraspecific Variation in the Wing Shape of the Mango Leafhopper, Idioscopus Clypealis, among Orchards in the Philippines

Plants have differential expression of genes despite being propagated through cloning as in the case of mango. This study aimed to determine the effect of intraspecific variation in the host mangoes to the wing shape of the mango leafhopper, Idioscopus clypealis. Leafhopper populations were collected from four different orchards from individual trees. Wings were dissected, imaged and analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance, thin plate spline analysis and relative warp analysis. Results showed significant variation across all sampled trees in each geographic location regardless of farm management methods in the wing shape of the leafhopper. This variation is observed between genders and between trees in an orchard. Results also show that there is intraspecific variation in each host tree even in unsprayed populations and organic pesticide use. High adaptability to host defense and pesticides evidenced by wing variation may be key to persistence in this high value crop despite natural and synthetic control measures.