Genome of the parasitoid wasp diachasma alloeum, an emerging model for ecological speciation and transitions to asexual reproduction

Eric S. Tvedte, Kimberly K.O. Walden, Kyle E. McElroy, John H. Werren, Andrew A. Forbes, Glen R. Hood, John M. Logsdon, Jeffrey L. Feder, Hugh M. Robertson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Parasitoid wasps are among the most speciose animals, yet have relatively few available genomic resources. We report a draft genome assembly of the wasp Diachasma alloeum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a host-specific parasitoid of the apple maggot fly Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae), and a developing model for understanding how ecological speciation can "cascade" across trophic levels. Identification of gene content confirmed the overall quality of the draft genome, and we manually annotated ∼400 genes as part of this study, including those involved in oxidative phosphorylation, chemosensation, and reproduction. Through comparisons to model hymenopterans such as the European honeybee Apis mellifera and parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis, as well as a more closely related braconid parasitoid Microplitis demolitor, we identified a proliferation of transposable elements in the genome, an expansion of chemosensory genes in parasitoid wasps, and the maintenance of several key genes with known roles in sexual reproduction and sex determination. The D. alloeum genome will provide a valuable resource for comparative genomics studies in Hymenoptera as well as specific investigations into the genomic changes associated with ecological speciation and transitions to asexuality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2767-2773
Number of pages7
JournalGenome biology and evolution
Volume11
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 25 2019

Keywords

  • Hymenoptera
  • chemosensory genes
  • de novo genome assembly
  • genome evolution
  • sequential speciation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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