Assessment of genetic variability and genotyping of Ceratitis capitata and Bactrosera zonata by molecular techniques*

Abstract

Genomic DNA of Ciratitis capitata (Wied.) and Bactrocera zonata (Saund.) was analysed to determine the genetic diversity between them. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique as well as the electrophoretic analysis of total soluble protein were used for this purpose. Out of 10 tested primers, six gave positive results, producing 36 bands. Data obtained from RAPD analysis were employed to estimate the genetic similarity matrix based on Jaccard's coefficient. To determine the genetic relationship between both species, similarity values were used to construct DNA and protein dendrograms. The DNA dendrogram illustrated two major groups of clusters, each group consisted of minor clusters representing one of the two insects. A lower genetic similarity (25%) was noted between the two species. At the protein level, a moderate similarity percentage (67%) was detected. It was found that C. capita and B. zontata are genetically completely distant.