The effect of host plant and isolation on the genetic structure of phytophagous insects: A preliminary study on a bruchid beetle

• Published in: European journal of entomology Vol. 107; no. 3; pp. 299 - 304
• Main Authors: Restoux, G.,University Paris Sud, Orsay (France). ESE-UMR CNRS-UPS-ENGREF, Hossaert-Mckey, M.,CEFE-CNRS, Montpellier (France), Benrey, B.,University Neuchatel (Switzerland). Evol-lab, Alvarez, N.,University Neuchatel (Switzerland). Evol-lab
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ceske Budejovice Institute of Entomology 01.01.2010; Czech Entomological Society; Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
• Subjects: Acanthoscelides; ACANTHOSCELIDES OBTECTUS; adaptation; Beans; Biodiversity and Ecology; BRUCHIDAE; Environmental Sciences; Flowers & plants; FLUJO GENETICO; FLUX DE GENES; GENE; GENE FLOW; GENES; Genetic diversity; GENETICA DE POBLACIONES; Genetics; GENETIQUE DES POPULATIONS; HOST PLANTS; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_11621; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16196; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_27100; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_30003; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3214; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_34326; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_37331; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5765; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5767; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7377; Life Sciences; METHODE STATISTIQUE; METODOS ESTADISTICOS; PESTS OF PLANTS; PHASEOLUS COCCINEUS; PHASEOLUS VULGARIS; phytophagous insects; PLAGAS DE PLANTAS; PLANTAS HUESPEDES; PLANTE HOTE; POPULATION GENETICS; Populations and Evolution; RAVAGEUR DES PLANTES; spatial genetic structure; STATISTICAL METHODS; Studies; gene flow; Acanthoscelides; adaptation; Phytophagous insects; spatial genetic structure; Bruchidae
• ISSN: 1210-5759; 1802-8829
• DOI: 10.14411/eje.2010.038

Genetic differentiation is a consequence of the combination of drift and restriction in gene flow between populations due to barriers to dispersal, or selection against individuals resulting from inter-population matings. In phytophagous insects, local adaptation to different kinds of host plants can sometimes lead to reproductive isolation and thus to genetic structuring, or even to speciation. Acanthoscelides obtectus is a bean bruchid specialized on beans of the Phaseolus vulgaris group, attacking both wild and domesticated forms of P. vulgaris and P. coccineus. This study reveals that the genetic structure of populations of this bruchid is explained mainly by their geographical location and is not related to a particular kind (wild or domesticated) of bean. In contrast, the species of bean might have led, to some extent, to genetic structuring in these bruchids, although our sampling is too limited to address such process unambiguously. If confirmed, it would corroborate preliminary results found for the parasitoid species that attack Acanthoscelides species, which might show a genetic structure depending on the species of host plant.