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Submitted to: Mitochondrial DNA
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 10/7/2014 Publication Date: 10/20/2014 Citation: Coates, B.S., Abel, C.A. 2014. The mitochondrial genome of the American lotus borer, Ostrinia penitalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Mitochondrial DNA. DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2014.971296. Interpretive Summary: Understanding the evolution of insect species closely related to crop pests is important for understanding their ability to adapt to different environments. The species, Lotus Borer, is a close relative to the highly destructive corn pest insect, European corn borer. The mitochondrial genome of a Lotus Borer was sequenced by ARS scientists and the level of change compared the European corn borer was estimated and used to estimate the time since these two species diverged. The sequence of this ancestral borer species will be important for future studies of this group of insects and prediction of evolutionary paths which led to feeding on crop plants. Technical Abstract: The American lotus borer, Ostrinia penitalis, is the most ancestral among more than 20 species described in the genus Ostrinia, and the near complete mitochondrial genome sequence described here is important for phylogenetic comparisons. The 12,612 bp contiguous fragment contains 13 protein coding genes, 20 tRNAs and a partial rRNA gene complement. Compared to two previously sequenced Ostrinia mitochondrial genomes, gene order and orientation remains identical. In contrast, complete stop codons of cox2 (TAG) and atp6 (TAA) in O. penitalis show that completion of truncated stop codons in other Ostrinia are derived. |
