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Title: Development of microsatellite markers for Peristenus digoneutis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an important natural enemy of tarnished plant bugs

Author
item MARCARI, V - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL)
item CAUSSE, S - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL)
item Hoelmer, Kim
item COUTINOT, D - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL)
item DEBIASE, A - University Of Rome Sapienza
item BON, M-C - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL)

Submitted to: Conservation Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/24/2013
Publication Date: 12/13/2013
Citation: Marcari, V., Causse, S., Hoelmer, K.A., Coutinot, D., Debiase, A., Bon, M. 2013. Development of microsatellite markers for Peristenus digoneutis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an important natural enemy of tarnished plant bugs. Conservation Genetics. (2014)6:421-432 DOI 10.1007/s12686-013-0108-1.

Interpretive Summary: A European wasp was successfully introduced and has become an important biocontrol agent of tarnished plant bug pests in agricultural crops in the Northeastern USA. To help explain the successful establishment and subsequent spread of this biocontrol agent, it is necessary to be able to distinguish among various geographic populations of the wasp that now occur in the US and in its native range in Europe. We developed a series of genetic markers from the wasp genome which showed that considerable genetic variation in present among wasps in France and in the USA. This variability will be useful for further studies on the nature of establishment and spread of biocontrol agents, and will help in designing conservation strategies to preserve wasp populations in the field for improved management of tarnished plant bug populations.

Technical Abstract: The introduced European parasitoid Peristenus digoneutis is an important biocontrol agent of lygus bug pests in agricultural crops in the Northeastern USA. Changes in cultural practices and reduction of alfalfa culture in its native range has significantly reduced its distribution compared to its historic range. Characterization of native populations for the sustainable use of the species as a biocontrol agent in future programs is desirable. Sixteen loci among the 24 markers isolated from P. digoneutis genome using the 454 pyrosequencing method exhibited polymorphism in populations sampled in France and the USA. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 7. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) and the expected heterozygosity (He) varied from 0.01 to 0.75 and from 0.01 to 0.72, respectively. Most loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, with the exclusion of two loci. These polymorphic loci will be valuable for population genetic studies and genetic conservation for P. digoneutis.