ARS | Publication request: MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF RIBOSOMAL RNA SPACER REGIONS IN GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATED POPULATIONS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL (ANTHONOMUS GRANDIS)

Submitted to: Genbank
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: January 13, 2005
Publication Date: January 14, 2005
Citation: Roehrdanz, R.L., Senechal, P.L. 2005. Molecular analysis of ribosomal rna spacer regions in geographically separated populations of the boll weevil (anthonomus grandis). Genbank. Accession numbers AY882992 to AY883003.

Technical Abstract: The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, is a serious pest of cultivated cotton in the Western Hemisphere. It is suggested that three forms of A. grandis exist based on geographical and behavioral characteristics. All three forms are morphologically similar making identification difficult. While most areas of the US have contained or eliminated the weevil, population dispersal from areas where weevils are still found poses a threat of reinfestation. We studied three Texas populations of Southeastern boll weevil, one population of boll weevil from Mexico (all of which are found on cultivated cotton), and three populations of boll weevil from the wild cotton regions of southern Arizona. The focus of the research was on the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and the intergenic spacer of the nuclear ribosomal DNA region. Molecular analysis of ITS2 and IGS using PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphisms, and sequence analysis revealed genetic differences among the three variants of A. grandis that could potentially identify distinct weevil populations. We found restriction pattern differences in the IGS that differentiated between the populations of Thurberia weevil and A. grandis populations in Texas and Mexico. Sequence variations in the ITS2 revealed one and two base pair differences that are indicative of three distinct weevil populations. Sequencing of the IGS was limited, but also revealed potential sequence regions useful as identification markers for A. grandis populations. AY882992 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 (1610SR ) AY882993 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1513WS AY882994 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1515WS .AY882995 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1597MO .AY882996 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1598MO .AY882997 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1607SR .AY882998 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1614KP .AY882999 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1649BR AY883000 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1769CU AY883001 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 1826CU AY883002 Anthonomus grandis. internal transcribed spacer 2 0970KP .AY883003 Anthonomus grandis internal transcribed spacer 2 BWLHit2