Characterization of a microsatellite locus in the parasitoid waspAphelinus abdominalis(Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

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Abstract
Primers for DNA amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were synthesized for a microsatellite locus isolated from a partial genomic library of the aphid parasitoidAphelinus abdominalis(Dalman). Screening for genetic polymorphism at this locus in two laboratory strains of this wasp revealed the presence of two alleles different in the number of (GT) and (GGC) repeats. The relative frequencies of the two alleles were not significantly different between the two strains or between diploid females and haploid males. Heterozygosity at this microsatellite locus was estimated to be 0.40 which is within the range in other hymenopterous species. Given thatA. abdominalisis a good candidate for augmentative release programmes in greenhouses against aphids, we suggest that microsatellite markers may have application in discriminating among aphelinid sibling species and strains. The markers provide a means for studying the performance and impact of selected parasitoid lines on pest dynamics in field release experiments.