Detection of Rhopalosiphum insertum (apple-grass aphid) predation by the predatory mite Anystis baccarum using molecular gut analysis |
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| Authors: | Andrew G. S. Cuthbertson Colin C. Fleming Archie K. Murchie |
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| Affiliation: | Applied Plant Science Division, The Agriculture and Food Science Centre, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and The Queen's University of Belfast, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland, UK. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract 1 A simple, yet sensitive polymerase chain reaction based technique was developed for the detection of the apple‐grass aphid Rhopalosiphum insertum in the gut of Anystis baccarum, a predatory mite. 2 A range of conserved polymerase chain reaction primers for insect mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA were tested in order to amplify R. insertum DNA. The mitochondrial DNA primers LrRNAR2 + N1F1, amplified a region between the ND1 and large subunit RNA genes. 3 DNA sequencing of the R. insertum ND1‐LRNA polymerase chain reaction product allowed aphid‐specific polymerase chain reaction primers to be designed. These amplified a 283‐bp product from individual aphids. No polymerase chain reaction product was amplified from individual A. baccarum. 4 Using the aphid‐specific primers against A. baccarum fed on R. insertum, the diagnostic 283‐bp product was amplified. 5 Two restriction enzymes (RsaI and AluI) produced patterns that allowed unambiguous identification of R. insertum DNA from that of Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Myzus persicae. |
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| Keywords: | Anystis baccarum aphid gut contents PCR predation Rhopalosiphum insertum |
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