Microsatellite markers from tea green leafhopper Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii: a powerful tool for studying genetic structure in tea plantations

Abstract

BackgroundTea green leafhopper is one of the most dominant pests in Chinese tea plantations. Recent evidence, including morphological and molecular data, revealed that tea green leafhopper in China is the same species as in Japan, Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii Matsuda. Previous morphological study that revealed variation in the structure of the male genitalia within and among populations of this species suggested that there may be significant population-level genetic variation. To provide powerful molecular markers to explore the population genetic diversity and population genetic structure of this pest in China, microsatellite markers were obtained by AFLP of sequences containing repeats (FIASCO).ResultsEighteen polymorphic markers were evaluated for five populations of E. (M.) onukii, Two related empoascine leafhopper species were selected to test the transferability of the markers. Population genetic structure of E. (M.) onukii was detected using Structure analysis, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and variance analysis. The identified markers were polymorphic with total number of alleles ranging from 6 to 24 per locus, observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.133 to 0.9 and 0.183 to 0.926, respectively, and the polymorphic information content value over all populations varied from 0.429 to 0.911.ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that microsatellite markers provide valuable information for genetic structure of E. (M.) onukii in Chinese tea plantations. There is obvious genetic differentiation between the two populations in the Southwest tea area. These microsatellite markers will be the powerful tools for genetic studies of E. (M.) onukii and improve understanding of the microevolution of this species.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-016-0420-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Population structure and genetic differentiation of tea green leafhopper, Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii, in China based on microsatellite markers

“…The low to moderate levels of genetic differentiation and subdivision are concordant with geographic distribution. The genetic structure based on 18 microsatellite markers confirms the genetic difference between Southwest groups 1 and 2 in the topographically complex Southwest tea production area, similar to the result obtained previously 27 . Furthermore, different allelic richness and mean expected heterozygosity were observed in the PE and CY populations of the Southwest tea production area (Tables 1 and 2).…”

“…Microsatellite markers revealed lower genetic differentiation between Sichuan and Yunnan populations than was shown in a previous study on this same species in the same region 27 . This may be because the present study used samples obtained from multiple localities in Sichuan.…”

“…Eighteen microsatellite markers (Supplementary Table S3) out of the 21 originally characterized by Zhang et al . 27 were labeled with a fluorescent dye (HEX, TAMRA or FAM). PCR protocol was performed as described by Zhang et al .…”

“…PCR protocol was performed as described by Zhang et al . 27 . PCR products were run by automated capillary electrophoresis on an ABI 3130xl (Applied Biosystems, Foster, CA, USA) genetic analyzer.…”

“…( M .) onukii in Chinese tea production areas 27 . Here we report the results of a comprehensive population genetic study based on these previously identified markers, incorporating specimens confirmed as E .…”