The genome of Tetranychus urticae reveals herbivorous pest adaptations

The spider mite Tetranychus urticae is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest with an extensive host plant range and an extreme record of pesticide resistance. Here we present the completely sequenced and annotated spider mite genome, representing the first complete chelicerate genome. At 90 megabases T. urticae has the smallest sequenced arthropod genome. Compared with other arthropods, the spider mite genome shows unique changes in the hormonal environment and organization of the Hox complex, and also reveals evolutionary innovation of silk production. We find strong signatures of polyphagy and detoxification in gene families associated with feeding on different hosts and in new gene families acquired by lateral…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, 0820985
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: -AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02-
• GC
  Genome Canada

  Award: OGI-046
• OG
  Ontario Genomics
• JG
  Joint Genome Institute

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231
• GO
  Government of Canada

  Award: OGI-046
• OG
  Ontario Genomics Institute

  Award: OGI-046
• BF
  Belgian Federal Science Policy Office
• FW
  Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

  Award: DE-AC02-05CH11231
• UG
  Universiteit Gent
• VR
  Vlaamse regering
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: AC02-05CH11231, -AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, No. DE-AC02-05CH11231
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

  Award: DE-AC02-05CH11231