Annals of the Entomological Society of America (1999) 92, 737-741

Anette Reineke and C.P.W. Zebitz (1999)
Suitability of polymerase chain reaction-based approaches for identification of different gypsy moth (Lepidoptera : Lymantriidae) genotypes in central Europe
Annals of the Entomological Society of America 92 (5), 737-741
Abstract: Two different molecular marker approaches—random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction site polymorphism analysis of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-2)—have been used to assess whether Asian genotypes of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., have been introduced or migrated to central Europe. In previous studies, both marker systems have proved to be reliable for distinguishing Asian and North American genotypes of this insect and thus for detecting the geographical origin of pheromone-trapped specimens in North America. RAPD analysis of >1,000 samples from 18 different geographical origins in Europe revealed that—with the exception of 2 locations—Asian, North American, and hybrid RAPD markers were present at varying proportions in all European populations. However, none of the European gypsy moth specimens was classified as Asian genotype after analysis of the ITS-2 region. The results are discussed in relation to the possible bottlenecks associated with the release of a small number of European moths in North America and the different genomic regions analyzed with both marker systems. These effects may have influenced the suitability of both diagnostics for distinguishing gypsy moth isolates from different geographical origins.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Annette Reineke, Claus P.W. Zebitz

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lymantria dispar