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Cytogenetic Characterization of Diachasmimorpha Longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasitoid Wasp Used As a Biological Control Agent

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Cytogenetic Characterization of Diachasmimorpha Longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasitoid Wasp Used As a Biological Control Agent Eur. J. Entomol. 110(3): 401–409, 2013 http://www.eje.cz/pdfs/110/3/401 ISSN 1210-5759 (print), 1802-8829 (online) Cytogenetic characterization of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp used as a biological control agent 1, 2 2 1 1 LEONELA CARABAJAL PALADINO , ALBA PAPESCHI , SILVIA LANZAVECCHIA , JORGE CLADERA and MARÍA JOSÉ BRESSA2 1 Laboratorio de Genética de Insectos de Importancia Económica, Instituto de Genética “Ewald A. Favret”, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA-Castelar), Buenos Aires, Argentina; e-mails: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] 2 Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; e-mails: [email protected]; [email protected] Key words. Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, karyotype, C-banding, heterochromatin, Ag-NOR, FISH, rDNA Abstract. Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a parasitoid wasp widely used in the biological control of fruit flies. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the karyotype of this species based on the results of classical and molecu- lar cytogenetic techniques. The cytogenetic analysis confirmed the male and female chromosome numbers previously reported (n = 20, 2n = 40). The entire short arm of most chromosomes is made up of a large constitutive heterochromatic segment. The high het- erochromatin content differentiates D. longicaudata from other braconid species. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using autologous 18S rDNA probes revealed six clusters of rDNA, i.e. six nucleolar organizer regions (NORs), in the heterochromatic short arms of different chromosomes in the haploid male karyotype. This number is exceptionally high for Hymenoptera, which usu- ally have two NORs in the diploid complement. It is noteworthy that these rDNA-FISH experiments represent the first use of this technique on a braconid species using autologous probes. Since Ag-NOR-bands were coincident with C-positive bands on metaphase chromosomes, it was not possible to identify active nucleoli. The physical characteristics of the D. longicaudata karyotype, espe- cially the content and distribution of heterochromatin and the number and location of rDNA clusters, contribute to a better under- standing of the structure and organization of braconid chromosomes and provide a basis for genomic and evolutionary studies. INTRODUCTION (Chalcididae) and Perilampus ruschkai (Hellen) (Peri- Parasitic Hymenoptera constitute one of the most taxo- lampidae) (Hung, 1986; Quicke, 1997; Baldanza et al., nomically complex groups of insects (Rasnitsyn, 1980; 1999; Gokhman, 2000a, 2005), and the highest number in Quicke, 1997). Even though they are economically Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Braconidae) (Kitthawee et al., important as biological control agents of agricultural and 2004). According to this character, the distribution of the forestry pests (Viktorov, 1976; Godfray, 1994), their species is bimodal with two distinct peaks at n = 6 and n chromosomes remain poorly studied (Gokhman, 2004). = 11 (Gokhman, 2003, 2004, 2006). Similar modal num- Karyological research is often incorporated into mole- bers (n = 6 and n = 10) are recorded if chromosome num- cular studies on parasitic wasps, namely that on entomo- bers are counted at the genus level (Gokhman & Quicke, pathogenic viruses associated with many species of this 1995; Gokhman, 2000b, 2003, 2005). With regard to their group (Stoltz & Whitfield, 1992; Belle et al., 2002), the morphology, the chromosomes of parasitoid wasps are analysis of sex determination (Whiting & Whiting, 1925; monocentric and biarmed, except in some species of Ich- De Menten et al., 2003,) and the mapping of particular neumonidae that have acrocentric chromosomes (Abe, genes (Matsumoto et al., 2002). However, in order to 1994; Gokhman, 2001, 2003, 2004). Therefore, this render the chromosomes recognizable, the karyotype of group characteristically has symmetric karyotypes (Steb- the species must be examined in detail prior to molecular bins, 1950). The chromosomes range in size from 12–15 studies. Hymenoptera that are held in laboratory stocks to 0.5–1 µm, with most of them of medium size (3–5 µm) may represent useful models for karyotaxonomic research (Crozier, 1975; Gokhman, 2003). Chromosomes of most and chromosome analyses, since their easy availability parasitic Hymenoptera gradually decrease in size, and the facilitates the interpretation of differences in the kary- largest and the smallest usually differ in length by no ological characters (Gokhman, 2000a). more than 2–2.5 times. However, important differences in The haploid chromosome number of the more than 400 size of single chromosomes are recorded for some species species of parasitic wasps studied up to now varies from 3 of Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Drynidae, Eulophidae and to 23 (Gokhman, 2009). The lowest number is found in Torymidae (Gokhman, 2001, 2002, 2009). Aphidius sp. (Nees) (Braconidae), Encarsia protransvena The relatively few reports of the distribution of hetero- (Viggiani) (Aphelinidae), Brachymeria intermedia (Nees) chromatin reveal that the chromosomes usually have dis- 401 tinct pericentromeric and telomeric heterochromatic seg- In the present work, we analyzed the male and female ments (Hoshiba & Imai, 1993; Reed, 1993; Gokhman, karyotypes of D. longicaudata and mapped the distribu- 1997; Baldanza et al., 1999; Gokhman & Westendorf, tion of constitutive heterochromatin in relation to karyo- 2000, 2003). Segments of intercalary position are rare and type differentiation. We also determined the number and only described for some Ichneumonidae and Aphelinidae location of NORs by means of Ag-NOR staining and (Gokhman, 1997; Baldanza et al., 1999). Imai et al. FISH using 18S rDNA autologous probes. Our cytoge- (1988) proposed the term “pseudoacrocentric” for those netic findings provide a deeper knowledge of chromatin chromosomes with the short arm fully heterochromatic organization and constitution of the chromosomes in and the long one euchromatic. This type of chromosomes parasitic Hymenoptera. In addition, they provide informa- is relatively frequent in parasitic wasps (Gokhman, 1985, tion interesting for the use of D. longicaudata as bio- 1997; Hoshiba & Imai, 1993; Baldanza et al., 1999; logical control agent. Gokhman & Westendorf, 2000), except in Aphidius ervi MATERIAL AND METHODS (Haliday) (2n = 12) in which some chromosomes are entirely heterochromatic. The ribosomal genes can be Experimental insects studied by the conventional silver staining technique (Ag- Diachasmimorpha longicaudata individuals were imported NOR), which reveals functional nucleolar organizer from Mexico to Tucumán province (Argentina) in 1998 and cul- regions (NORs), and by fluorescence in situ hybridization tured in our laboratory (Buenos Aires province, Argentina) (FISH) with specific ribosomal DNA (rDNA) probes, since 2001 (SENASA, nº 14054/98). They are reared on Cera- which accurately locate ribosomal genes (Sumner, 1990). titis capitata (Wiedemann) larvae and kept in an incubator at Using Ag-NOR NOR regions have been located on both 25°C, 85% relative humidity and 18L : 6D photoperiod. In order to obtain individuals of a particular stage this parasitoid was homologous chromosomes in a few wasps of the families reared using the method described by Carabajal Paladino et al. Aphelinidae, Eulophidae and Pteromalidae (Reed, 1993; (2010). Baldanza et al., 1999; Maffei et al., 2001; Giorgini & Chromosome preparations Baldanza, 2004; Bernardo et al., 2008). On the other hand, in four species of the genus Encarsia with the same Preparations were made following two different protocols, chromosome number, this region is located on different depending on the nature of the subsequent analysis. For classi- cal cytogenetic analysis, the preparations were made using the chromosomes (Baldanza et al., 1999; Baldanza & squash technique following the protocol of Guerra (1999), with Giorgini, 2001; Giorgini & Baldanza, 2004). Up to now, slight modifications. Briefly, the gonads of male and female the chromosomal location of rDNA has only been identi- prepupae and pharate adult parasitoids were dissected in a fied in the karyotypes of two parasitic wasps, Tricho- physiological solution developed for Ephestia (Glaser, 1917 gramma kaykai (Pinto & Stouthamer) (Trichogramma- cited in Lockwood, 1961), swollen for 5 min in a hypotonic tidae) (Van Vugt et al., 2009) and Cotesia congregata solution (0.075 M KCl), fixed for 30 min in freshly prepared (Say) (Braconidae) (Belle et al., 2002) using FISH with fixative solution (ethanol, acetic acid, 3 : 1) and then stained 45S rDNA heterologous probes prepared from wheat and with 2% haematoxylin with iron alum for 30 min. The gonads Drosophila melanogaster (Linnaeus). were then washed five times with distilled water and transferred into a drop of 45% acetic acid on a slide. After squashing, the Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Ichneu- preparations were sealed with nail varnish. monoidea, Braconidae, Opiinae) is a hymenopteran para- For banding and FISH, chromosome preparations were made sitoid that is easy to rear under artificial conditions using by spreading testes and ovaries from pupae and pharate adults of fruit flies as hosts (Marucci & Clancy, 1950). It is a the parasitoid,
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