Cs. Willett et Rg. Harrison, Insights into genome differentiation: Pheromone-binding protein variation and population history in the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), GENETICS, 153(4), 1999, pp. 1743-1751
Examination of sequence variation at nuclear loci can give insights into po
pulation history and gene flow that cannot be derived from other commonly u
sed molecular markers, such as allozymes. Here, we report on sequence varia
tion at a single nuclear locus, the pheromone-binding protein (PBP) locus,
in the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis). The European corn borer ha
s been divided into three races in New York State on the basis of differenc
es in pheromone communication and life history. Previous allozyme data have
suggested that there is a small but significant amount of genetic differen
tiation between these races. The PBP does not appear to be involved in the
pheromone differences between these races. Examination of variation at the
PBP locus in the three races reveals no fixed differences between races des
pite high levels of polymorphism. There also appears to have been considera
ble recombination in the history of the pheromone-binding protein alleles.
Observation of both recombination between alleles and lack of significant n
ucleotide or insertion/deletion divergence between races leads us to sugges
t that these populations are either recently diverged or have continued to
exchange genetic material subsequent to divergence in pheromone communicati
on and life history.