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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217813
Title: Genetic diversity of Aphthona flea beetles introduced into North America for biological control of leafy spurge

Author
item Roehrdanz, Richard

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2007
Publication Date: 2/20/2008
Citation: Roehrdanz, R.L. 2007. Genetic diversity of Aphthona flea beetles introduced into North America for biological control of leafy spurge. Available at: http://www.ncera125.ent.msu.edu/PDFS/StateReport2007.pdf

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Five species of Aphthona flea beetles from Europe (Aphthona flava, Aphthona cyparissiae, Aphthona nigriscutis, Aphthona czwalinae, and Aphthona lacertosa) have been introduced and become established in North America for the purpose of controlling the noxious weed, leafy spurge. Within species genetic diversity and between species genetic distance of the North American populations is being examined using mitochondrial DNA. DNA sequences have been obtained from an endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia, that infects a large proportion of the A. nigriscutis populations and is probably linked to very low numbers of adult males in those populations. A molecular marker key has been designed to aid in the identification of adults and immature stages of these 5 species. Using the markers we discovered populations of two Aphthona species in North Dakota that were believed to have been absent from the state for the past decade. This research was done in collaboration with S. Sears (USDA-ARS, Fargo, ND), D. Olson & G Fauske (North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND), R. Bourchier (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada), and A. Cortilet, (Minnesota Department of Agriculture, St. Paul, MN) Publications and Presentations: 2007 Roehrdanz, R. DNA Test Identifies Species of Leafy Spurge Flea Beetles and Rediscovers a Species Thought to have Disappeared. Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center, Research News from the Valley. May 2007. Roehrdanz, R. L. GenBank Accessions: EF090277-EF090281. Aphthona czwalinae - mitochondrial cox1-tRNALeu-cox2. Mitochondrial DNA variation of North American populations of Aphthona czwalinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a flea beetle imported for biocontrol of leafy spurge. 2007 2006 Roehrdanz, R. L, S Sears, R Bouchier, D. Olson, A Cortilet, and G Fauske. Molecular phylogeny and species diversity of Aphthona flea beetles introduced to North America. Annual Meeting for the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Tempe, AZ. Presentation #P132-A. May 24-28, 2006. Roehrdanz, R. L. GenBank Accessions: DQ386423-DQ386434 Aphthona cyparissiae - mitochondrial cox1-tRNALeu-cox2. Mitochondrial DNA variation of North American populations of Aphthona cyparissiae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a flea beetle imported for biocontrol of leafy spurge. 2006 Roehrdanz, R. L GenBank Accessions: DQ381552-DQ381562. Aphthona lacertosa mitochondrial cox1-tRNALeu-cox2. Mitochondrial DNA variation of North American populations of Aphthona lacertosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a flea beetle imported for biocontrol of leafy spurge. 2006