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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264183
Title: Characterization of ten polymorphic microsatellite markers in Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Author
item SANCHEZ, JUAN - Murciano Research Institute And Agricultural Development And Food (IMIDA)
item LA SPINA, MICHELANGELO - Murciano Research Institute And Agricultural Development And Food (IMIDA)
item Perera, Omaththage

Submitted to: Molecular Ecology Resources
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2011
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Macrolophus pygmaeus is an economically important beneficial insect predating on vegetable crop pests such as whiteflies and aphids. This insect may also feed on plants to complete life cycle. Despite the economical importance, molecular markers suitable for studying population genetic characteristics were not available for this species. We have developed a set of genetic markers suitable for population genetic studies of this species. These molecular markers will facilitate studies on ecological and population studies aimed at conservation and augmentation of M. pygmaeus as a biological control agent.

Technical Abstract: Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Heteroptera: Miridae) is an important predator of arthropod pests in vegetable crops. A partial genomic library enriched for microsatellite sequences was screened to identify marker loci and for the design of primers. Nine polymorphic loci were identified in 96 adults collected in the field. The observed number of alleles ranged from 5 to 15 and allele size from 101 to 190 bp. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.126 to 0.756 and 0.211 to 0.834, respectively. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was detected in three loci and linkage disequilibrium was observed between one pair of loci.