Using parthenogenesis‐inducing Wolbachia for the selection of optimal lines of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum for use in biocontrol

Trichogramma wasps (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are egg parasitoids commonly employed in augmentative biological control releases against a variety of mainly lepidopteran pests. By exploiting the mechanism by which the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia induces parthenogenesis in this genus, we created a set of completely homozygous Wolbachia‐infected recombinant isofemale lines (RILs), each consisting of a different combination of the genome of two well‐characterized lines of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley. We subsequently use 16 of these RILs to investigate the effect of genetic variation on various measures associated with offspring production under laboratory conditions. Unsurprisingly, substantial differences were found between the RILs in their propensity to parasitize hosts, the number of hosts they parasitize, and the levels of mortality in their offspring. Such measures can be used to choose an optimal line for biological control purposes. A method was also developed to characterize the 16 RILs using their allelic state at five loci. Essentially, this binary system uses high‐resolution melt analysis to resolve identity at each locus, with alleles originating from either the grandmaternal or grandpaternal line, and is such that each RIL can be distinguished from each other RIL by their allelic state at one or more loci. The method facilitates the easy diagnosis of line origin when two or more lines are competing with each other in competition assays, allowing for the design of more complicated tests of parasitoid quality. Future field experiments will determine which genetic line performs best under more realistic biological control conditions. The fact that these lines are infected with parthenogenesis‐inducing Wolbachia will allow for prolonged rearing without appreciable change in their genetic makeup, which should lead to a predictable biological control performance.     

Parasitism of cotton leafworm Alabama argillacea eggs by Trichogramma pretiosum in commercial cotton fields

Release of natural enemies in commercial fields is challenging and has been inconsistent in the results achieved. This work discusses the augmentative releases of Trichogramma pretiosum to control the cotton leafworm (CLW) Alabama argillacea and also examines the parasitoid–host interaction under grower field conditions. The treatments consisted of fields with and without releases of T. pretiosum set up in Primavera do Leste and Campo Verde Counties, MT, Brazil, during three different seasons (2003 and 2004 dry and 2004 regular summer seasons). Trichogramma wasps were weekly released in the treated fields throughout the entire sampling period (14–15 week period) at a rate of 100 000 wasps per hectare. One‐way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed for the number of parasitized eggs, followed by a meta‐analysis procedure to determine the contribution of T. pretiosum release on overall parasitism. In addition, regression analysis was conducted with each season’s data sets to study the relationship of the host density and parasitism response by T. pretiosum. The overall results of Trichogramma augmentative releases did not result in significant increase of CLW egg parasitism beyond the natural parasitism in the areas studied. However, based on Cohen’s d effect sizes from the meta‐analysis, the parasitism rate was greater in fields under T. pretiosum releases during four out of 15 weeks surveyed. The parasitism of CLW eggs by T. pretiosum exhibited host density‐dependence only in one out of three seasons surveyed. These findings are encouraging as they are evidence that T. pretiosum is able to maintain a considerable level of parasitism under commercial field conditions, highlighting their potential value in large‐scale commercial areas of cotton as previously found at the small and diverse farming scale. Future studies should address the potential of early‐season, low density releases of the parasitoid.     

Does mass rearing of field collected Trichogramma brassicae wasps influence acceptance of European corn borer eggs?

The purpose of our study was to identify a trait that changes quickly during Trichogramma mass rearing, and that could therefore be used to monitor stock deterioration. Quality deterioration in mass reared Trichogramma wasps was evaluated by examining host acceptance behaviour of Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on the target host Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). We compared three replicate lines (designated ‘E’) reared in the laboratory on the factitious host Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for 27 generations, a line ‘O’ reared in the laboratory on O. nubilalis for 24 generations, and a line ‘F’ reared in the laboratory on O. nubilalis for only two generations. All lines were initiated from field collections of O. nubilalis egg masses. We also evaluated natal host effects by rearing each line on E. kuehniella as well as on O. nubilalis for the last generation prior to testing. The percentage of wasps accepting the O. nubilalis egg mass was significantly higher for the E lines (69.6%) than for the F line (46.5%), while wasps of the O line showed intermediate (57.4%) acceptance. Thus, wasps laboratory reared on E. kuehniella performed better than wasps which had recently been collected in the field. Wasps of the O line showed extended probing behaviour compared to the other lines. Lines did not differ in the duration from the first host contact to the beginning of the drilling, probing or trembling behaviour. Natal host (E. kuehniella or O. nubilalis) did not affect acceptance of the target host O. nubilalis. Even though there is some evidence of adaptation to laboratory rearing conditions, we found no indication for quality deterioration in terms of acceptance behaviour of the target host O. nubilalis when T. brassicae was mass reared on the factitious host E. kuehniella.     

Distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes (cytb) in Polish populations of Emys orbicularis (L., 1758)

The European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, inhabits a wide distribution area in the western Palaearctic. Polish populations of pond turtle represent the nominotypical subspecies Emys orbicularis orbicularis. The mitochondrial DNA haplotype (cytb gene) variation among 131 turtles from 26 locations in five regions of Poland was investigated. Five haplotypes belonging to three distinct lineages were identified. Two clades (I and II) were represented by two haplotypes each, while the other clade (IV) was represented by one haplotype. Three haplotypes were reported for the first time in E. orbicularis. The eastern part of Poland is inhabited exclusively by turtles bearing haplotype Ia. The remaining four sequence variants were recorded in western Poland where only the IIb haplotype is considered endemic. The distribution of the other haplotypes in western Poland could thus reflect past introductions or accidental releases. The authors regarded the two locations (Drzeczkowo and Karpicko) that were first included in the western Poland populations as autochthonous catchment areas of haplotype Ia.     

Chemotactic responses and parasitism of Trichogramma pretiosum after successive generations in Spodoptera frugiperda

Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is an important parasitoid of lepidopteran pests. Its parasitism success is related to its foraging behavior, mediated by kairomones from its hosts. We aimed to evaluate the chemotactic responses and parasitism of T. pretiosum from Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs as well as the parasitoid maintained for three generations in Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs. Chemotactic responses of T. pretiosum from both hosts were evaluated in a dual choice olfactometer. Females were submitted to a choice between washed vs. unwashed eggs of E. kuehniella or S. frugiperda, as well as to unwashed eggs of both hosts. Egg extracts of both hosts were also contrasted with hexane and with each other. Parasitism of T. pretiosum exposed to eggs of the two species was also evaluated. Females from E. kuehniella were more attracted to odors from eggs of this host whenever it was present. Third generation parasitoids from S. frugiperda eggs were more attracted to eggs and egg extract of S. frugiperda than to those from E. kuehniella. The highest number of parasitized eggs and emerged parasitoids in S. frugiperda was observed in parasitoids coming from the third generation in this host. Therefore, imaginal conditioning could be an alternative to be considered for T. pretiosum learning before releasing, possibly optimizing its search and parasitism process in S. frugiperda eggs.     

Host suitability of the Mediterranean flour moth for rearing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meteorus pulchricornis</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a polyphagous endoparasitoid of pest lepidopteran larvae

We investigated the host suitability of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for a polyphagous koinobiont endoparasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a common natural enemy of various pest lepidopteran larvae. The estimated probability of adult wasp emergence was 80% or higher when eggs were laid in nearly fully grown larvae of E. kuehniella (fresh weight, >?20.0 mg). The body size of emerged adult wasps increased with the initial weight of the host larvae at oviposition. The fresh weight of adult wasps reared on E. kuehniella was approximately 60% of that when reared on a natural host Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the lifetime fecundity of wasps reared on E. kuehniella was approximately half of that when reared on S. litura. Ephestia kuehniella was shown to be a positive host candidate for the mass rearing of M. pulchricornis, but further investigation is needed to increase the body size of wasps for more practical use of this species as a biocontrol agent.     

Low field performance of an aphid parasitoid,Aphelinus abdominalis,efficient in the laboratory [Hym., Aphelinidae]

Life history traits of two inbred lines of the aphid parasitoidAphelinus abdominalis (Dalman) were evaluated in the laboratory. Both lines exhibited high fecundities, produced a high proportion of female offspring and showed to be long-lived. However, release experiments in winter wheat fields failed to achieve establishment of the parasitoids. In addition, the wasps parasitized considerably fewer aphids in two types of field cages than they did in the laboratory. AsA. abdominalis eggs and/or larvae arrested in development were not found in dissected aphids from field cages, we conclude that the wasps were unable or unwilling to parasitize high numbers of hosts in the cages. The reason for this odd behaviour is unknown.     

The effect of host size on quality attributes of the egg parasitoid,Trichogramma pretiosum

In a study of the quality ofTrichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammidae), we compared female wasps emerging from natural hosts, parasitized in the laboratory or the field with those emerging from factitious hosts used for commercial mass production. Females from the natural hosts were larger, more fecund, and longer lived than those from the factitious hosts. Compared to small females, large female wasps are substantially more fecund when honey (carbohydrate) is available but marginally more fecund when honey is unavailable. The size of a femaleT. pretiosum depends on two factors: the size of the host egg from which it emerges even when the wasp was gregarious, and the number of conspecifics that emerge with it. The similarities in the size distribution of female wasps emerging from natural hosts, in conjunction with the mechanism by whichTrichogramma measure host size and allocate eggs accordingly, suggests the hypothesis that size related components of fitness in femaleT. pretiosum are under strong selection in the field.     

Host Preferences of Trichogramma pretiosum and the Influence of Prior Ovipositional Experience on the Parasitism of Plutella xylostella and Pseudoplusia includens Eggs

Trichogramma wasps are generalist egg parasitoids used in biological control efforts. In a multi host situation they may preferentially parasitize a non-target host species to the detriment of the control program. Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is a very serious pest of cabbage, but is only one in a number of species in the ‘cabbageworm’ complex. We investigated the host preferences of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) when offered the eggs of Plutella xylostella and the eggs of Pseudoplusia includens Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), another species in the ‘cabbageworm’ complex. Trichogramma pretiosum reared on the eggs of the factitious host Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) parasitized both Plutella xylostella and Pseudoplusia includens eggs under laboratory conditions. For both choice and no-choice experiments, T. pretiosum parasitized significantly more P. xylostella eggs than P. includens eggs. Prior ovipositional experience with one or other of the two host species had no effect on the subsequent parasitism levels of the two host species. The preference for P. xylostella eggs was also not affected by this prior ovipositional experience.     

Molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene of Aedes aegypti L. mosquitoes

Aedes aegypti is the most important arboviral vector worldwide. Recent studies reported that genetic variations and gene flow among same mosquito species is responsible for different disease transmission rate. Hence, to understand the relationship between genetic diversity and disease transmission potential, study on genetic variations among mosquito populations is essential. The aim of present study was to investigate the genetic variations of Ae. aegypti targeting COI gene from nine villages of Jalna District, Maharashtra and three laboratory strains originated from Aurangabad, Delhi and transgenic OX513A strain imported from OXITEC, UK. OX513A strain consists of a self-limiting dominant lethal gene construct intended for its use in suppression of Ae. aegypti population by sustained male adult releases in the environment. Mosquito eggs from field and laboratory strains were reared to adults and identified on the basis of morphological characteristics followed by COI gene sequence. Result of MSA and haplotype analysis revealed low genetic variations among field samples and Aurangabad strain, belonged to two haplotypes (H1 and H2) except Ramkheda village represented by separate haplotype H3. Other laboratory DEL strain and transgenic OX513A have great genetic variability to all isolates and have a separate haplotypes H4 and H5. Similar results were observed in phylogenetic analysis. Our observation of phylogenies revealed close relationship among the DEL and transgenic strain OX513A with few Indian and worldwide isolates. The information on genetic variability of mosquito population could help to understand and design the strategies for risk mitigation and effective implementation of new vector control tools like genetically modified mosquitoes.     

Influence of microbe-associated parthenogenesis on the fecundity ofTrichogramma deion andT. pretiosum

Microbe-associated parthenogenesis (thelytoky) has been discovered in nineTrichogramma species, parasitoids of mainly lepidopteran eggs. Parthenogenetic and bisexual conspecifics co-occur in many field populations. As an initial step to understand the dynamics of these two reproductive strategies we studied the effect of microbe-associated parthenogenesis on fecundity. The fecundity of two parthenogenetic isofemale lines ofT. pretiosum and one ofT. deion was compared with bisexual lines derived from them by antibiotic treatment. In all three cases parthenogenetic females were less fecund over their lifetime than bisexual females. Also, parthenogenetic females produced fewer daughters in two cases and in one case a similar number of daughters as their respective bisexual counterparts. The lack of mating and insemination was excluded as an explanation for the reduced fecundity of parthenogenetic females, because mated and virgin parthenogenetic females produce the same number of offspring. Antibiotic treatment can also be excluded because females of field-collected bisexual line treated with antibiotics produced the same number of offspring as untreated females. The reduced fecundity of parthenogenetic females was caused by a lower number of eggs being laid rather than by a greater developmental mortality. Parthenogenetic females produced less daughters than bisexual females when host availability was not limiting, but when host availability was severely limited, parthenogenetic females produced more daughters than the bisexual females.     

Frequency of Cry1F Non-Recessive Resistance Alleles in North Carolina Field Populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a target species of transgenic corn (Zea mays L.) that expresses single and pyramided Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin. In 2014, S. frugiperda were collected from a light trap in North Carolina, and a total of 212 F₁/F₂ isofemale lines of S. frugiperda were screened for resistance to Bt and non-Bt corn. All of the 212 isolines were susceptible to corn tissue expressing Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab, Cry1F + Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab, and Cry1F + Cry1Ab + Vip3Aa20. Growth rate bioassays were performed to isolate non-recessive Bt resistance alleles. Seven individuals out of the 212 isofemale lines carried major non-recessive alleles conferring resistance to Cry1F. A pooled colony was created from the seven individuals. This colony was 151.21 times more resistant to Cry1F than a known-susceptible population and was also resistant to Cry1A.105, but was not resistant to Cry2Ab and Vip3Aa20. The results demonstrate that field populations of S. frugiperda collected from North Carolina are generally susceptible to Cry1F, but that some individuals carry resistant alleles. The data generated in this study can be used as baseline data for resistance monitoring.     

Coevolution of Drosophila melanogaster mtDNA and Wolbachia Genotypes

Maternally inherited microorganisms can influence the mtDNA pattern of variation in hosts. This influence is driven by selection among symbionts and can cause the frequency of mitochondrial variants in the population to eventually increase or decrease. Wolbachia infection is common and widespread in Drosophila melanogaster populations. We compared genetic variability of D. melanogaster mitotypes with Wolbachia genotypes among isofemale lines associated with different geographic locations and time intervals to study coevolution of the mtDNA and Wolbachia. Phylogenetic analysis of D. melanogaster mtDNA revealed two clades diverged in Africa, each associated with one of the two Wolbachia genotype groups. No evidence of horizontal transmission of Wolbachia between maternal lineages has been found. All the mtDNA variants that occur in infected isofemale lines are found in uninfected isofemale lines and vice versa, which is indicative of a recent loss of infection from some maternal fly lineages and confirms a significant role of Wolbachia in the D. melanogaster mtDNA pattern of variation. Finally, we present a comparative analysis of biogeographic distribution of D. melanogaster mitotypes all over the world.     

Insight into the Migration Routes of Plutella xylostella in China Using mtCOI and ISSR Markers

The larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, cause major economic losses to cruciferous crops, including cabbage, which is an important vegetable crop in China. In this study, we used the mitochondrial COI gene and 11 ISSR markers to characterize the genetic structure and seasonal migration routes of 23 P. xylostella populations in China. Both the mitochondrial and nuclear markers revealed high haplotype diversity and gene flow among the populations, although some degree of genetic isolation was evident between the populations of Hainan Island and other sampling sites. The dominant haplotypes, LX1 and LX2, differed significantly from all other haplotypes both in terms of the number of individuals with those haplotypes and their distributions. Haplotypes that were shared among populations revealed that P. xylostella migrates from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River to northern China and then to northeastern China. Our results also revealed another potential migration route for P. xylostella, i.e., from southwestern China to both northwestern and southern China.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation and reticulate evolution of the genus Abies

The sequences of three regions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of a total length of 5226 bp were used to study the phylogeography of the genus Abies. The mtDNA haplotype network, comprising 36 studied Abies taxa, consisted of two branches; the first represented all American species plus two Asian, and the second included the remaining Eurasian species. Within these clusters, the haplotypes formed nine major groups, generally corresponding to the clades of the previously obtained phylogeny based on chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), but the relationships of these groups were significantly different; species assignment to the particular mtDNA haplotype group was more in line with its geographical distribution. In addition, the mtDNA haplotype network contains cycles indicating the recombination. It is assumed that the incongruence of cpDNA and mtDNA phylogenies is caused by the introgression capture of alien mtDNA during species hybridization and thus contains information about past migrations. The cases of incongruence of mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA suggesting a migration of Abies between Asia and North America are discussed.     

Global spread and genetic variants of the two CYP9M10 haplotype forms associated with insecticide resistance in Culex quinquefasciatus Say

Insecticide resistance develops as a genetic factor (allele) conferring lower susceptibility to insecticides proliferates within a target insect population under strong positive selection. Intriguingly, a resistance allele pre-existing in a population often bears a series of further adaptive allelic variants through new mutations. This phenomenon occasionally results in replacement of the predominating resistance allele by fitter new derivatives, and consequently, development of greater resistance at the population level. The overexpression of the cytochrome P450 gene CYP9M10 is associated with pyrethroid resistance in the southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. Previously, we have found two genealogically related overexpressing CYP9M10 haplotypes, which differ in gene copy number (duplicated and non-duplicated). The duplicated haplotype was derived from the non-duplicated overproducer probably recently. In the present study, we investigated allelic series of CYP9M10 involved in three C. quinquefasciatus laboratory colonies recently collected from three different localities. Duplicated and non-duplicated overproducing haplotypes coexisted in African and Asian colonies indicating a global distribution of both haplotype lineages. The duplicated haplotypes both in the Asian and African colonies were associated with higher expression levels and stronger resistance than non-duplicated overproducing haplotypes. There were slight variation in expression level among the non-duplicated overproducing haplotypes. The nucleotide sequences in coding and upstream regions among members of this group also showed a little diversity. Non-duplicated overproducing haplotypes with relatively higher expression were genealogically closer to the duplicated haplotypes than the other non-duplicated overproducing haplotypes, suggesting multiple cis-acting mutations before duplication.     

Mitochondrial haplotype divergences affect specific temperature sensitivity of mitochondrial respiration

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature changes on the functional properties of mitochondria from two sets of D. simulans fly lines harboring the siII and siIII haplotypes in a common nuclear genetic background. We studied four introgressed isofemale lines possessing the mtDNA of siII and the nuclear background of siIII (siII-introgressed) and four lines possessing siIII mitochondria with its native nuclear genome (siIII-controls). We assessed the catalytic capacities of electron transport system (ETS) at four different temperatures (12, 18, 24 and 28?ºC). The impact of temperature on the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, the mitochondrial respiration (coupled and uncoupled respiration), cytochrome c oxidase activity, as well as the excess capacity of complex IV (COX) were evaluated in these two sets of flies. Our results showed that the temperature coefficient values (Q₁₀) measured for mitochondrial respiration in the lower range of temperatures (12 to 18?ºC) showed a 2 to 3 fold increase in siII-introgressed when compared to siIII-controls. This result shows that the impact of temperature on mitochondrial function is different between the two mitotypes studied. The Q₁₀ results seem to be linked to the apparent COX excess capacity of 193 % for siIII-controls that is inexistent for siII-introgressed at 12?ºC. One explanation for these results is that the mitochondria can compensate for the disruption of mito-nuclear interactions at 24?ºC but not at lower temperatures. An alternate explanation would be that siII haplotype confer divergent kinetic properties to the ETS that translate to different temperature sensitivities.     

Ancestral population reconstitution from isofemale lines as a tool for experimental evolution

Experimental evolution is a powerful tool to study adaptation under controlled conditions. Laboratory natural selection experiments mimic adaptation in the wild with better‐adapted genotypes having more offspring. Because the selected traits are frequently not known, adaptation is typically measured as fitness increase by comparing evolved populations against an unselected reference population maintained in a laboratory environment. With adaptation to the laboratory conditions and genetic drift, however, it is not clear to what extent such comparisons provide unbiased estimates of adaptation. Alternatively, ancestral variation could be preserved in isofemale lines that can be combined to reconstitute the ancestral population. Here, we assess the impact of selection on alleles segregating in newly established Drosophila isofemale lines. We reconstituted two populations from isofemale lines and compared them to two original ancestral populations (AP) founded from the same lines shortly after collection. No significant allele frequency changes could be detected between both AP and simulations showed that drift had a low impact compared to Pool‐Seq‐associated sampling effects. We conclude that laboratory selection on segregating variation in isofemale lines is too weak to have detectable effects, which validates ancestral population reconstitution from isofemale lines as an unbiased approach for measuring adaptation in evolved populations.     

Cytoplasmic incompatibility and multiple symbiont infection in the ash whitefly parasitoid,Encarsia inaron

Terrestrial arthropods are commonly infected with maternally inherited symbionts that cause reproductive incompatibilities between hosts with differing infection status. Such symbionts can have major effects on the efficacy of a biological control program if releases are comprised of mixtures of differentially infected individuals. In this study, the ash whitefly parasitoid, Encarsia inaron (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from Arizona was surveyed for the presence of heritable bacterial symbionts; experiments were also performed to test for two phenotypes known to be caused by Encarsia symbionts—cytoplasmic incompatibility and changes in oviposition behavior and host use. E. inaron has successfully reduced ash whitefly to non-pest status in all three locations it has been released (California, Arizona, and North Carolina) and is also notable as one of the only Encarsia species that is not autoparasitic, with both male and female wasps developing as primary parasitoids of whiteflies. We show that E. inaron is infected with both Wolbachia and Cardinium. While there was no effect of the symbionts on oviposition behavior or host use, crosses between doubly infected male wasps and uninfected females resulted in a severe reduction in the number of female offspring; male offspring production was unaffected. This study thus serves as a further warning that ascribing a phenotype to a symbiont with confidence depends on eliminating the possibility of a mixed infection, and establishes E. inaron as a useful model for dissecting Wolbachia–Cardinium interactions.     

Haplotype analysis of the mitochondrial DNA d‐loop region reveals the maternal origin and historical dynamics among the indigenous goat populations in east and west of the Democratic Republic of Congo

This study aimed at assessing haplotype diversity and population dynamics of three Congolese indigenous goat populations that included Kasai goat (KG), small goat (SG), and dwarf goat (DG) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The 1169 bp d‐loop region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced for 339 Congolese indigenous goats. The total length of sequences was used to generate the haplotypes and evaluate their diversities, whereas the hypervariable region (HVI, 453 bp) was analyzed to define the maternal variation and the demographic dynamic. A total of 568 segregating sites that generated 192 haplotypes were observed from the entire d‐loop region (1169 bp d‐loop). Phylogenetic analyses using reference haplotypes from the six globally defined goat mtDNA haplogroups showed that all the three Congolese indigenous goat populations studied clustered into the dominant haplogroup A, as revealed by the neighbor‐joining (NJ) tree and median‐joining (MJ) network. Nine haplotypes were shared between the studied goats and goat populations from Pakistan (1 haplotype), Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria (1 haplotype), Zimbabwe (1 haplotype), Cameroon (3 haplotypes), and Mozambique (3 haplotypes). The population pairwise analysis (F_ST ) indicated a weak differentiation between the Congolese indigenous goat populations. Negative and significant (p‐value <.05) values for Fu''s Fs (−20.418) and Tajima''s (−2.189) tests showed the expansion in the history of the three Congolese indigenous goat populations. These results suggest a weak differentiation and a single maternal origin for the studied goats. This information will contribute to the improvement of the management strategies and long‐term conservation of indigenous goats in DRC.