Rawdata for insect DNA metabarcoding sequences in citrus in China

DNA metabarcoding is rapidly emerging as a cost-effective approach for large-scale biodiversity assessment and pest monitoring. The current study employed metabarcoding to assess insect diversity in citrus orchards in Ganzhou city, Jiangxi, China during 2018-2019. Insects were sampled using single Malaise traps deployed in three citrus orchards producing a total of 43 pooled monthly collections (samples). These bulk samples were metabarcoded, and sequences were curated and analyzed using two cloud-based data storage and analytical platforms, the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) and Multiplex Barcode Research And Visualization Environment (mBRAVE). These platforms assigned the sequences to 2,141 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), a species proxy. Only 63% of the BINs were shared among the three sampling sites while BIN sharing between any two sites did not exceed 75%. Comparison of these records against all those on BOLD made it possible to identify 40% of the BINs to a species, 57% to a genus, 97% to a family, and 99% to an order. Species which received a species match on BOLD were placed in one of four categories based on this assignment: pest, parasitoid, predator, or pollinator. As this study provides the first baseline data on insect biodiversity in Chinese citrus plantations, it is a valuable resource for research in a broad range of areas such as pest management and monitoring beneficial insects in citrus gardens.DNA metabarcoding is rapidly emerging as a cost-effective approach for large-scale biodiversity assessment and pest monitoring. The current study employed metabarcoding to assess insect diversity in citrus orchards in Ganzhou city, Jiangxi, China during 2018-2019. Insects were sampled using single Malaise traps deployed in three citrus orchards producing a total of 43 pooled monthly collections (samples). These bulk samples were metabarcoded, and sequences were curated and analyzed using two cloud-based data storage and analytical platforms, the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) and Multiplex Barcode Research And Visualization Environment (mBRAVE). These platforms assigned the sequences to 2,141 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), a species proxy. Only 63% of the BINs were shared among the three sampling sites while BIN sharing between any two sites did not exceed 75%. Comparison of these records against all those on BOLD made it possible to identify 40% of the BINs to a species, 57% to a genus, 97% to a family, and 99% to an order. Species which received a species match on BOLD were placed in one of four categories based on this assignment: pest, parasitoid, predator, or pollinator. As this study provides the first baseline data on insect biodiversity in Chinese citrus plantations, it is a valuable resource for research in a broad range of areas such as pest management and monitoring beneficial insects in citrus gardens.