Genetic diversity and population structure in green oak leaf roller (Tortrix viridana L., Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from north-Zagros forests

Tortrix viridana L., commonly known as green oak leaf roller, is a major harmful herbivorous pest for oak forests that cause severe yield loss via almost complete defoliation during the pest outbreak in spring. In spite of importance of controlling this pest , little is known about the population structure and DNA-based genetic diversity of this pest in Iran. In this study, genetic structure and diversity of 105 genotypes representing 16 populations of Tortrix viridana from North-Zagros forests was studied using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Ten ISSR primers amplified a total of 127 bands of which 121 were polymorphic. Also, eight RAPD primers produced a total of 105 fragments with 105 polymorphic bands. Estimated coefficient of inter-population genetic differentiation (ΦST) based on ISSR and RAPD primers were 0.26 and 0.18 respectively. Molecular analysis of variance (AMOVA) showed that most of the total revealed genetic diversity distributed within populations than between populations for both marker systems. The gene flow estimate (Nm) among populations was 0.461 (ISSR) and 0.527 (RAPD), suggesting restricted gene flow, the poulations are not genetically distinct. These findings could provide important information on the population genetic diversity of this destructive pest, which can be suitable in designing effective strategies for integrative management of this pest in Zagros forests.