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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #298322

Title: Restriction digestion method for haplotyping the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli

Author
item Swisher Grimm, Kylie
item Crosslin, James

Submitted to: Southwestern Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/25/2013
Publication Date: 3/1/2014
Citation: Swisher, K.D., Crosslin, J. 2014. Restriction digestion method for haplotyping the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli. Southwestern Entomologist. 39:49-56.

Interpretive Summary: The potato psyllid is linked to economically-important diseases of solanaceous crops in North and Central America and New Zealand. Previous research of this insect pest has identified 4 psyllid populations that correlate to different geographical regions. The past research has predominantly used the high resolution melting technique to identify psyllid populations; a technique that is efficient, but requires costly equipment. This current study identified a second technique, restriction enzyme digestion, for identifying psyllid populations. This new method can be done at low cost by any laboratory with basic molecular biology equipment. Additionally, this study identified a second target for determining psyllid populations, and supports the previous finding of four different psyllid populations.

Technical Abstract: A restriction digestion method has been developed for haplotyping the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli Sulc., an economically important pest of solanaceous crops. This method differentiates the four known potato psyllid haplotypes by utilizing restriction enzyme digestion of a portion of the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA, tRNA-Val, and a portion of the small subunit ribosomal RNA, providing a second target within the mitochondrial DNA for haplotyping studies. This technique also provides a good alternative to the current method of potato psyllid haplotyping which uses high resolution melting analysis, a technique that requires access to a real-time PCR machine with high resolution melting capabilities. Potato psyllid haplotyping by restriction digestion is done using basic laboratory equipment that is readily available for smaller laboratories with budgetary limitations, thereby providing an excellent tool for laboratories of all sizes to identify psyllid populations.