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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #219740
Title: Comparative Performance of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and Microsatellite Markers for the Detection of Population Differentiation in Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Author
item Coates, Brad
item Miller, Nicholas
item Sumerford, Douglas
item Sappington, Thomas
item SIEGFRIED, BLAIR - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item LEWIS, LESLIE - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Heredity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2009
Publication Date: 5/1/2009
Citation: Coates, B.S., Miller, N.J., Sumerford, D.V., Sappington, T.W., Siegfried, B.D., Lewis, L.C. 2009. Comparative Performance of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and Microsatellite Markers for the Detection of Population Differentiation in Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of Heredity. 100(5):556-564.

Interpretive Summary: Western corn rootworm is a serious insect pest of corn in the United States and Europe. Damage and control costs for this insect exceed $1 billion from an annual crop valued at more than $22 billion in the U.S. alone. There is an important need to understand this insect at the genetic level, and genetic studies require development of DNA markers. In this study, several DNA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were developed for these beetles. The new SNP markers show differences between individuals within populations of western corn rootworm, and can be used to understand aspects of this insect’s biology and evolution. The markers developed in this study will be used by ARS and university scientists in the U.S. and Europe to facilitate the identification of genes that allow this pest to resist control measures, and to characterize movement of individuals between populations.

Technical Abstract: Putative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified from contiguous sequences assembled from Diabrotica virgifera virgifera midgut expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)-based assays confirmed variation at 20 biallelic SNP loci. Pedigree analysis indicated Mendelian inheritance at all but two loci, of which one could be explained by null allele presence. Eighteen loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations in a natural population. These loci are appropriate for genetic studies of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera.