Canadian Forest Service Publications

Characterization of EST-based SSR loci in the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). 2013. Brunet, B.M.T.; Doucet, D.; Sturtevant, B.R.; Sperling, F.A.H. Conservation Genetics Resources 5(2):541-544.

Year: 2013

Issued by: Great Lakes Forestry Centre

Catalog ID: 35194

Language: English

Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)

Available from the Journal's Web site.
DOI: 10.1007/s12686-012-9847-7

† This site may require a fee

Mark record

Abstract

After identifying 114 microsatellite loci from Choristoneura fumiferana expressed sequence tags, 87 loci were assayed in a panel of 11 wild-caught individuals, giving 29 polymorphic loci. Further analysis of 20 of these loci on 31 individuals collected from a single population in northern Minnesota identified 14 in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. © 2013 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.

Plain Language Summary

Spruce budworm is the most ecologically important defoliator of the boreal forest. We wanted to increase our knowledge of its fine-scale population structure across North America. This allows for a better understanding of the synchronization of population cycles and dispersal patterns across its range. Identifying genetic markers is a useful tool for such population studies. Genetic variation can more easily be studied if expressed sequence tags (EST -short sequences of genes that can be matched to a specific chromosome location) are used. We identified 114 genetic markers from spruce budworm EST using insects collected from throughout Alberta. Results were validated using budworm form northern Minnesota. This information will complement existing resources on the genetics of spruce budworm.