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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #240419

Title: Genetic Diversity and Differentiation among Laboratory and Field Populations of the Soybean Aphid, Aphis glycines

Author
item MICHEL, ANDREW - The Ohio State University
item ZHANG, WEI - The Ohio State University
item Mian, Rouf

Submitted to: Bulletin of Entomological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2010
Publication Date: 5/27/2010
Citation: Michel, A.P., Zhang, W., Mian, R.M. 2010. Genetic Diversity and Differentiation among Laboratory and Field Populations of the Soybean Aphid, Aphis glycines. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 27:1-8.

Interpretive Summary: The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura¸ is the number one pest of soybean in North America. The main focus of soybean aphid research in USA has been on developing and characterizing soybean lines expressing host-plant resistance. For initial screenings of host-plant resistance, researchers use soybean aphid colonies reared in growth chambers. Previous studies with other aphids have documented substantial differences among laboratory colonies and field populations. Whether or not this pattern exists in A. glycines is unknown. In this study, we used 7 simple sequence repeats or microsatellite markers to estimate and compare genetic diversity and differentiation among 3 laboratory colonies and 10 field populations. Our results show that soybean aphid colonies are severely lacking in genotypic diversity within colonies and show extreme genetic differentiation among each other and to field populations. Using only laboratory reared colonies for identification of soybean aphid resistance may not reveal true host-plant resistance of a soybean line to the latest field populations of soybean aphids. Thus soybean lines found resistant to laboratory reared colonies of soybean aphid need to be tested under multiple field environments if possible.

Technical Abstract: The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura¸ is a recent invasive pest of soybean in North America. Currently, much research is focused on developing and characterizing soybean cultivars expressing host-plant resistance. During the initial screenings of host-plant resistance these studies use soybean aphid colonies reared in laboratories. Previous studies in other systems have documented substantial differences among laboratory colonies and field populations. Whether or not this pattern exists in A. glycines is unknown. In this study, we used 7 microsatellite markers to estimate and compare genetic diversity and differentiation among 3 laboratory colonies and 10 field populations. Our results show that soybean aphid colonies are severely lacking in genotypic diversity and show extreme genetic differentiation among each other and to field populations. Using only laboratory reared colonies for identification of soybean aphid resistance may not reveal true host-plant resistance of a soybean line to the latest field populations of soybean aphids.