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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #117936
Title: STATUS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN WESTERN CORN ROOTWORM GENETIC EVALUATIONS

Author
item Roehrdanz, Richard
item Chandler, Laurence - Larry
item BERGER, HAROLD - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Submitted to: Ostrinia International Working Group Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Western corn rootworm beetles collected in semiochemical-lure traps during the summer of 2000 from 23 sites in Eastern Europe were sent to the USDA-ARS laboratory in Fargo, ND. In some cases the beetles were by trapped by aspirator and in other cases collected them by hand: Immediately after catching the beetles they were put in vials 75% alcohol. Collections were concentrated in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina including the "Republic Srpska", Hungary, and Italy. Some sites were so close to each other, that they were summarized under one location. Insects were shipped in 75 % alcohol and sent to Fargo, ND, USA via DHL and were immediately frozen upon arrival. Intact DNA was recovered from individual beetles from 17 of the 23 sites. Some problems were encountered with beetles from the 6 sites with negative results (result of insects drying out in shipment), but attempts are being made to refine DNA extraction methods to successfully gather material from the beetles. The intact DNA from the 17 sites was demonstrated by successful amplification of a small PCR product using a western corn rootworm specific primer set. To date all samples appear similar to those of laboratory reared western corn rootworms (from the Brookings, South Dakota USDA-ARS laboratory) which were collected from typical populations of insects inhabiting corn/soybean rotations. Earlier studies indicate that the Brookings lab insects are similar to most populations in the central Corn Belt. To date no samples have been identified to be related to insects ovipositing in soybean. Further studies are being conducted to refine the assay technique and to provide additional data that might be useful in pinpointing the exact origin of beetles inhabiting Europe.