Comparative dispersal and survival of male oriental fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from wild and genetic sexing strains

AbstractThe sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used in integrated pest management programs for the control of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata. The genetic interactions between the released individuals from the genetic sexing strains (GSS), used for SIT applications worldwide, and wild individuals have not been studied. Under the hypothesis that a number of Vienna GSS individuals released to the field might not be completely sterile and may produce viable offspring, we have analyzed medfly Spanish field populations to evaluate the presence of Vienna strain genetic markers. To this goal, we have used contrasted nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers, and two novel sets of nuclear polymorphisms with the potential to be markers to discriminate between Vienna and wild individuals. Nuclear Vienna markers located on the 5th chromosome of Vienna males have been found in 2.2% (19 from 875) of the Spanish wild medfly females captured at the area where SIT is applied. In addition, a female-inherited mitochondrial Vienna marker has been found in two from the 19 females showing nuclear Vienna markers. The detection of several of these markers in single individuals represents evidence of the introgression of Vienna strain into natural populations. However, alternative explanations as their presence at low frequency in wild populations in the studied areas cannot be fully discarded. The undesired release of non-fully sterile irradiated GSS individuals into the field and their interactions with wild flies, and the potential environmental implications should be taken into account in the application of the SIT.

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Simulation of instability in genetic sexing strains: effects of male recombination in association with other biological parameters

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300053189 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 11-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

E. Busch-Petersen ◽

H. Baumgartner

Keyword(s):

Genetic Recombination ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Biological Parameters ◽

Genetic Sexing ◽

Male Recombination ◽

Rate Of Progression ◽

Control Programmes ◽

Males And Females ◽

Low Levels ◽

Genetic Sexing Strains

AbstractGenetic systems have been developed in several insect species for separating males and females prior to releasing sterilized males in pest control programmes using the sterile insect technique. The systems generally depend on translocating a readily selectable gene onto the Y chromosome. A potential source of instability in such a system is genetic recombination in the male. Although such recombination was originally thought to be absent in most cyclorrhaphous Diptera, low levels have recently been found. We have developed a computer model which simulates the progression of instability in the presence of male recombination, which can be used to assess the influence of rate of recombination in combination with a range of associated genetic and biological parameters. Male recombination alone or fitness of the Y-linked translocation were found to contribute relatively little to the rate of progression of instability. By contrast reduced fitness or mating competitiveness associated with the selectable gene had a strong effect. The sex ratio and the ratio of carriers to non-carriers of the selectable gene showed patterns characteristic of the parameters modelled. The relevance of such data to the development of suitable strains for genetic sex-separation and the replacement of strains under mass rearing conditions are discussed.

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Genetic Sexing Strains of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae): Quality in Mass-Reared Temperature-Sensitive Lethal Strains Treated at High Temperatures

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1603/0022-0493-93.2.394 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 93 (2) ◽

pp. 394-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kingsley Fisher

Keyword(s):

High Temperatures ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Mediterranean Fruit Fly ◽

Temperature Sensitive ◽

Genetic Sexing ◽

Genetic Sexing Strains

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Isolation and cytogenetic analyses of genetic sexing strains for the medfly, Ceratitis capitata

Theoretical and Applied Genetics ◽

10.1007/bf00220886 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 255-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

P. Kerremans ◽

G. Franz

Keyword(s):

Ceratitis Capitata ◽

Genetic Sexing ◽

Cytogenetic Analyses ◽

Genetic Sexing Strains

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EXPOSURE TO GINGER ROOT OIL ENHANCES MATING SUCCESS OF MALE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLIES (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) FROM A GENETIC SEXING STRAIN

Florida Entomologist ◽

10.1653/0015-4040(2002)085[0440:etgroe]2.0.co;2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 85 (3) ◽

pp. 440-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Todd E. Shelly ◽

Alan S. Robinson ◽

Carlos Caceres ◽

Viwat Wornoayporn ◽

Amirul Islam

Keyword(s):

Mating Success ◽

Fruit Flies ◽

Genetic Sexing ◽

Ginger Root Oil ◽

Genetic Sexing Strain

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Transgenic expression of Nix converts genetic females into males and allows automated sex sorting in Aedes albopictus

10.1101/2021.07.28.454191 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Célia Lutrat ◽

Roenick Proveti Olmo ◽

Thierry Baldet ◽

Jérémy Bouyer ◽

Eric Marois

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Mosquito Control ◽

Flight Performance ◽

Genetic Sexing ◽

Transgenic Expression ◽

Fluorescence Marker ◽

Transgenic Lines ◽

Genetic Sexing Strains ◽

Primary Gene

Aedes albopictus is a major vector of arboviruses. Better understanding of its sex determination is crucial for developing mosquito control tools, especially genetic sexing strains. In Aedes aegypti, Nix is the primary gene responsible for masculinization and Nix-expressing genetic females develop into fertile, albeit flightless, males. In Ae. albopictus, Nix has also been implicated in masculinization but its role remains to be further characterized. In this work, we established Ae. albopictus transgenic lines ectopically expressing Nix. Several were composed exclusively of genetic females, with transgenic individuals being phenotypic and functional males due to the expression of the Nix transgene. Their reproductive fitness was marginally impaired, while their flight performance was similar to controls. Overall, our results show that Nix is sufficient for full masculinization in Ae. albopictus. Moreover, the transgene construct contains a fluorescence marker allowing efficient automated sex sorting. Consequently, such strains constitute valuable sexing strains for genetic control.

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