Identification of Habrobracon hebetor Populations Using RAPD Markers

It was found that food preferences and conditions of breeding of Habrobracon hebetor laboratory populations vary considerably. In this regard, it is necessary to identify populations within the studied species using DNA markers: an effective and reliable means for assessing the genetic differences between samplings of this insect species. A molecular genetic analysis of two different geographic populations of the Habrobracon hebetor entomophage (from Krasnodar, Russia, and Chimkent, Kazakhstan) was carried out using RAPD markers; 21 RAPD primers were tested for specificity to H. hebetor DNA. Five RAPD primers (OPA05, OPA10, OPB01, OPB04, and UBC519) were identified that have high specificity and the ability to differentiate H. hebetor populations. DNA markers that are specific for the Krasnodar and Chimkent entomophage populations and that can clearly identify them were revealed: for the Krasnodar population, RAPD markers with a molecular weight of 550 bp (UBC 519); 500 and 700 bp (OPA05); 1100, 1200, and 1300 bp (OPA10); 220 and 800 bp (OPB04); and 880 bp (OPB01); for the Chimkent population, 400, 600 and 1200 bp (UBC519); 600 and 950 bp (OPA10); and 800 bp (OPB01). It is concluded that these RAPD primers can be used for identification and differentiation of other H. hebetor populations.