title: Microsatellite and Wolbachia analysis in Rhagoletis cerasi natural populations: population structuring and multiple infections.
abstract: Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major pest of sweet and sour cherries in Europe and parts of Asia. Despite its economic significance, there is a lack of studies on the genetic structure of R. cerasi populations. Elucidating the genetic structure of insects of economic importance is crucial for developing phenological-predictive models and environmental friendly control methods. All natural populations of R. cerasi have been found to harbor the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis, which widely affects multiple biological traits contributing to the evolution of its hosts, and has been suggested as a tool for the biological control of insect pests and disease vectors. In the current study, the analysis of 18 R. cerasi populations collected in Greece, Germany, and Russia using 13 microsatellite markers revealed structuring of R. cerasi natural populations, even at close geographic range. We also analyzed the Wolbachia infection status of these populations using 16S rRNA-, MLST- and wsp-based approaches. All 244 individuals screened were positive for Wolbachia. Our results suggest the fixation of the wCer1 strain in Greece while wCer2, wCer4, wCer5, and probably other uncharacterized strains were also detected in multiply infected individuals. The role of Wolbachia and its potential extended phenotypes needs a thorough investigation in R. cerasi. Our data suggest an involvement of this symbiont in the observed restriction in the gene flow in addition to a number of different ecological factors.
authors: Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Western Greece Agrinio, Greece ; Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly Larissa, Greece ; Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture Vienna, Austria.
authors: Antonios A
authors: AA
authors: Augustinos
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly Larissa, Greece.
authors: Anastasia K
authors: AK
authors: Asimakopoulou
authors: Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly N. Ionia (Volos), Magnesia, Greece.
authors: Cleopatra A
authors: CA
authors: Moraiti
authors: Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Penelope
authors: P
authors: Mavragani-Tsipidou
authors: Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly N. Ionia (Volos), Magnesia, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos T
authors: NT
authors: Papadopoulos
authors: Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Western Greece Agrinio, Greece ; Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture Vienna, Austria ; Biomedical Sciences Research Center Al. Fleming Vari, Greece.
authors: Kostas
authors: K
authors: Bourtzis
keywords: Insect symbiosis; Rhagoletis cerasi; Tephritidae; Wolbachia; microsatellites