Abstract
Combining a biotin-enrichment protocol and 454GS-FLX titanium pyrosequencing technology, we characterised 22 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the parasitic wasp, Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a cosmopolitan species commonly used in biological control against a wide range of both major lepidopterous pests of stored products and field crops in different parts of the world. Three multiplex PCR sets were optimised and characterised across 46 H. hebetor specimens from two samples collected from millet fields in Niger. Two to 11 alleles were found per locus and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.289 to 0.826. Polymorphism was detected in both samples with a similar level of observed heterozygosity (0.482 vs. 0.502) and number of alleles (4.1 vs. 3.6). Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was detected at the same five loci in both samples and five or seven more loci in each sample but was not associated with heterozygote deficiencies. Even though evidence for linkage disequilibrium was found between a few alleles, these new loci segregated independently. The variability of the 22 loci will enable estimates of genetic diversity and structure patterns, as well as gene flow between H. hebetor populations at different spatial scales. Cross-species amplifications were successful among the six Bracon spp. tested and nine loci will be particularly appropriate for population genetic studies in B. brevicornis.
Highlights
IntroductionHabrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a well-known gregarious ectoparasitoid of the larvae of a wide range of economically important moths that infest stored grains, nuts, and fruits as well as field crops in various parts of the world
Such knowledge would improve our understanding of the species and its populations at different spatial scales, provide useful pre- and post-information on the populations released in the framework of biological control (BC) programmes, and facilitate design of more efficient control strategies
The knowledge gap underlines the need for discriminating molecular markers to accurately monitor H. hebetor in pest management programmes and for population genetics studies
Summary
Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a well-known gregarious ectoparasitoid of the larvae of a wide range of economically important moths that infest stored grains, nuts, and fruits as well as field crops in various parts of the world This parasitoid is considered to be one of the most promising biological control (BC) agents for many stored-product pests, including the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller), the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton), the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L., the cotton bollworm Helicorverpa armigera (Hübner), and the millet head miner, Heliocheilus albipunctella (de Joannis), thanks to its cosmopolitan distribution and ability to regulate populations of many destructive moth pests of stored-food commodities (Payne et al, 2011; Adarkwah et al, 2014; Ba et al, 2014; Ghimire & Philipps, 2014). The knowledge gap underlines the need for discriminating molecular markers to accurately monitor H. hebetor in pest management programmes and for population genetics studies
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