Differentiation of Elytra Color Patterns in Multicolored Asian Ladybird Beetle, Harmonia axyridis(Coleoptera; Coccinellidae), using AFLP analyses

摘要

Elytra of Harmonia axyridis exhibit varied color patterns. In the present study, we deciphered the genetic basis for intraspecific diversity of elytra color patterns in H. axyridis, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Twenty-eight AFLP reactions were performed to generate a total of 2,741 bands. Of these, 20 bands were polymorphic for each color pattern. The polymorphic bands showed differences of genetic character among different color patterns of H. axyridis. Among them, ten candidate AFLP markers were color-linked. SI, S2, and S20 markers were detected in Succinea 1 and 2 variants of H. axyridis, whereas S3 and S5 were specifically detected in the Conspicua variant. S15, S18, and S19 were specific to the Succinea 2 variant. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of these ten AFLP markers were sequenced. BLAST analysis of these sequences against the GenBank database revealed their homology to DNA fragments of unknown function. Based on the color-linked AFLP markers, sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers were designed for PCR amplification of genomic DNA. Of the ten AFLP markers, five were successfully converted into SCAR markers, which could discriminate elytra color polymorphism in H. axyridis.