Genetic differentiation among Brazilian populations of Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) based on RAPD analysis

The Neotropical Brown Stink Bug (NBSB), Euschistus heros (Fabricius), has a wide distribution in Brazilian soybean fields, being more important in the central region of the country. The species is the main target of insecticide applications for stink bug pest control. We determined the variability among and within populations of the NBSB by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Samples of NBSB were collected in soybean fields from Ubiratã (PR), Londrina (PR), Centenário do Sul (PR), Cândido Mota (SP), Ponta Porã (MS) and Sapezal (MT). Genomic DNA was extracted from the head to minimize DNA contamination by endoparasites. DNA was amplified with 10 mer primers. Fifteen primers produced 246 bands. The genetic similarity matrix was obtained, based on RAPD allele frequencies, using Nei's 1972 genetic distance. NSBS collected from the same geographical region clustered together. The populations from Londrina and Centenário do Sul were genetically closer than the others and stink bugs collected in Cândido Mota were closer to Ponta Porã population. The Sapezal geographical population was the most divergent from the others. Females and males clustered separately inside each geographical population, implying that RAPD permits gender discrimination. We did not observe individuals from one region clustering together with stink bugs from another region. The number of polymorphic loci from the different populations ranged between 40.6% and 52.1%. The gene flow indexes (overall Nm = 0.8307) were lower than that observed for Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) suggesting that in stink bug populations gene flow is lower than in the noctuid moths. O percevejo marrom da soja, Euschistus heros (Fabricius), possui ampla distribuição na região sojicola do Brasil, sendo mais importante na região central do País. Tem sido o alvo principal das aplicações de inseticidas dirigidas contra o complexo de pentatomídeos praga. A variabilidade nos RAPD entre e dentro das populações do percevejo marrom foi determinada. Amostras da espécie foram coletadas nos campos de soja de Ubiratã (PR), Londrina (PR), Centenário do Sul (PR), Cândido Mota (SP), Ponta Porã (MS) e Sapezal (MT). O DNA genômico foi extraído da cabeça para minimizar a contaminação do DNA proveniente dos endoparasitóides e parasitas que ocorrem na hemocele. O DNA foi amplificado com iniciadores de 10 nucleotídeos. Quinze iniciadores produziram 246 bandas. A similaridade genética fo