Characterization of microsatellite markers for the apicultural pest Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and its relatives

Authors: Solignac M.¹; Vautrin D.¹; Pizzo A.; Navajas M.²; Le Conte Y.³; Cornuet J-M.²

Source: Molecular Ecology Notes, Volume 3, Number 4, October 2003 , pp. 556-559(4)

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Abstract:

Sixteen microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for Varroa destructor using two procedures to screen genomic libraries. Together with those previously designed, they provide useful markers for the study of this harmful apicultural pest whose populations on Apis mellifera are poorly variable. Observed variability has been expressed as the number of alleles because heterozygosity is only rarely present. The defined primers have been assayed on another species of the same genus (V. jacobsoni) and almost half of them successfully cross-amplified and revealed polymorphism. These results suggest that the microsatellites isolated here should prove useful for population studies in different Varroa species.

Keywords: microsatellites; population markers; Varroa destructor; V. jacobsoni; V. underwoodi

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-8286.2003.00510.x

Affiliations: 1: Laboratoire Populations, Génétique et Evolution, CNRS, F91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France, 2: Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations, CS 30016 Montferrier-sur-Lez, 34988 Saint-Gely du-Fesc cedex, France, 3: UMR INRA/UAPV Ecologie des Invertébrés, Laboratoire Biologie et Protection de l’Abeille, Site Agroparc, Domaine Saint-Paul, 84914 Avignon cedex 9, France

Publication date: 2003-10-01