Journal of Insect Science (2022) 22 (1 - ieac012)

D. Catalina Fernández, Sherah L. VanLaerhoven, Esteban Rodríguez-Leyva, Y. Miles Zhang and Roselyne Labbé (2022)
Population structure and genetic diversity of the pepper weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using the COI barcoding region
Journal of Insect Science 22 (1 - ieac012)
Abstract: The pepper weevil Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a pest of economic importance for Capsicum species pepper in North America that attacks the reproductive structures of the plant. The insect is distributed across Mexico, the United States, and the Caribbean, and is occasionally found during the pepper growing season in southern Ontario, Canada. Continuous spread of the insect to new areas is partially the result of global pepper trade. Here, we describe the genetic diversity of the pepper weevil using the mitochondrial COI barcoding region across most of its geographic range. In this study, 44 (H1–H44) highly similar haplotypes were identified, the greatest number of haplotypes and haplotype diversity were observed among specimens from its native Mexico, followed by specimens from the United States. Unlike Mexico, a low haplotype diversity was found among specimens from Canada, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and the Netherlands. Out of these 44 haplotypes, 29 are reported for the first time. Haplotype diversity in the Canadian population suggests either multiple and continuous introductions of the pepper weevil into this area or a single introduction of genetically diverse individuals. We discuss the importance of such population genetic data in tailoring pepper weevil management programs, using Canada as an example.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Sherah L. VanLaerhoven, Esteban Rodríguez-Leyva

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anthonomus eugenii		U.S.A. (SW)
	Anthonomus eugenii		Canada (east)
	Anthonomus eugenii		Mexico
	Anthonomus eugenii		U.S.A. (NE)
	Anthonomus eugenii		U.S.A. (SE)