Population Genetic Structure of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from Apple Orchards in Central Chile

Abstract

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is the main pest of pome fruits worldwide. Despite its economic importance, little is known about the genetic structure and patterns of dispersal at the local and regional scale, which are important aspects for establishing a control strategy for this pest. An analysis of genetic variability using microsatellites was performed for 11 codling moth populations in the two major apple (Malus domestica Borkh) cropping regions in central Chile. Despite the geographical distances between some populations (approximately 185 km), there was low genetic differentiation among populations (F(ST) = 0.002176), with only slight isolation by distance. Only approximately 0.2% of the genetic variability was found among the populations. Geographically structured genetic variation was independent of apple orchard management (production or abandoned). These results suggest a high genetic exchange of codling moth between orchards, possibly mediated by human activities related to fruit production.

Population Explosion in the Yellow-Spined Bamboo Locust Ceracris kiangsu and Inferences for the Impact of Human Activity

“…These projects reduced some geographical barriers and provided potential new migration path to C. kiangsu. But at the same time, human trade activities and plant breeding activities also cause a high genetic exchange of agricultural pest [103], even cause invasive alien species [104]. In 1960s, central government launched a great project of bamboo transplanting, called South Bamboo Transfer to North, and the purpose of this project is transplanting well-grown bamboo species into north appropriate areas to afforest north cities and construct ecological engineering.…”

Methodology Microsatellite markers for genetic studies of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

“…In addition to their early applications in genome mapping studies and paternity tests, the so-called microsatellites are still the most powerful molecular markers available in molecular ecology and evolutionary studies. Inherent characteristics of high locus variability, ease and reliability of scoring, co-dominant inheritance, short length, and association with powerful statistical analyses such as Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods make their use widespread among insect population geneticists and ecologists (Fuentes-Contreras et al, 2008;Meng et al, 2008;Lagisz et al, 2010). The major objective of this research was to develop a new microsatellite marker set by using genomic enriched library protocols for S. frugiperda collected in Brazil and test its applicability as a tool for further population genetic studies of this important pest species.…”

Estimating Gene Flow between Refuges and Crops: A Case Study of the Biological Control of Eriosoma lanigerum by Aphelinus mali in Apple Orchards

“…Using appropriate bioinformatic tools to analyze DNA marker data, gene flow and genetic diversity within insect species can be quantified, which is critical for explaining population structure and dynamics in time and space (for a review see [6]). For instance, microsatellites in combination with powerful analytical tools [7] have proven to be useful for describing movement of insect pests between continents (for the western corn rootworm see [8]; for the tobacco aphid see [9]), between different production areas (for the codling moth see Fuentes–Contreras et al [10]; for the woolly apple aphid see [11]), and between native and introduced ranges of parasitoids [12]. To our knowledge, however, there are no studies using neutral genetic variation to estimate natural enemy migration (movement and reproduction) between a putative refuge and the crop.…”