Development of microsatellite loci in Pityophthorus juglandis, a vector of thousand cankers disease in Juglans spp

Using next-generation sequencing, 18 microsatellite loci were developed and characterized for walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis, a vector of thousand cankers disease (TCD) affecting Juglans spp. Although all Juglans species are susceptible to TCD infection, native populations of J. nigra and J. cinerea, which is endangered in Canada, are most susceptible and threatened by habitat loss. Novel primers amplified di-, tri-, and tetra nucleotide repeats and detected 4–14 alleles per locus. Averaged observed and expected heterozygosity was 0.22 and 0.67, respectively. Our results indicate that P. juglandis microsatellite loci can be used to investigate genetic diversity and population structure of this vector across a widespread geography. These markers will be useful tools for evaluating genetic structure of P. juglandis population outbreaks and developing appropriate conservation strategies. Microsatellite loci obtained in this study can also be utilized to determine relationships of P. juglandis to other closely related Pityophthorus spp. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.