Articles
identification of genetic variation within populations of the woolly apple aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the United Kingdom using microsatellite markers
Article number
1378_50
Pages
381 – 390
Language
English
Abstract
The woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum Hausmann; WAA) is a widespread pest of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). Woolly apple aphid originates in North America where it has a heteroecious lifecycle, alternating between asexual reproduction on apple and sexual reproduction on American Elm (Ulmus americana L.). Elsewhere WAA appears to have lost the sexual stage, living entirely on apple where reproduction is thought to be predominantly, if not entirely, asexual.
Both male and female sexuales have been captured in three countries outside of the USA, although in all cases offspring were not viable under laboratory conditions.
This work aims to determine the extent of any genetic diversity within UK WAA populations and to examine the possibility that any variation found may be the result of sexual reproduction.
Two hundred and two WAA samples were analysed using eight microsatellite markers.
Samples were collected from 12 locations in South East England (mean population size n=17). Assuming asexual reproduction of WAA and a single colonisation event, a single genetic population of WAA was expected.
Analysis with the software STRUCTURE tested between one and 12 putative populations and found the most likely number of populations to be two, with the presence of likely sub-structuring.
This alone is not evidence of functional sexual reproduction but suggests the potential for previously unknown geneflow between WAA populations in orchards in South East England.
This is a concern for pest control because of the potential for spreading genes which confer the ability to feed on resistant rootstocks, as has been reported in several apple-growing regions.
Both male and female sexuales have been captured in three countries outside of the USA, although in all cases offspring were not viable under laboratory conditions.
This work aims to determine the extent of any genetic diversity within UK WAA populations and to examine the possibility that any variation found may be the result of sexual reproduction.
Two hundred and two WAA samples were analysed using eight microsatellite markers.
Samples were collected from 12 locations in South East England (mean population size n=17). Assuming asexual reproduction of WAA and a single colonisation event, a single genetic population of WAA was expected.
Analysis with the software STRUCTURE tested between one and 12 putative populations and found the most likely number of populations to be two, with the presence of likely sub-structuring.
This alone is not evidence of functional sexual reproduction but suggests the potential for previously unknown geneflow between WAA populations in orchards in South East England.
This is a concern for pest control because of the potential for spreading genes which confer the ability to feed on resistant rootstocks, as has been reported in several apple-growing regions.
Authors
C. Godfrey, M. Fountain, F. Fernández, T. Pope, S. Segar
Keywords
woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum, population genetics, microsatellite, apple, aphid pest, asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction
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