›› 2014, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (11): 1360-1360.

• ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES • Previous Articles     Next Articles

China launches a genome sequencing project of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.)

  

  1.  Institute of Plant Protection, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences
  • Online:2014-11-20 Published:2014-11-20

Abstract: The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a destructive insect pest in the fruit production. The occurrence of this notorious pest frequently causes huge economic loss to apple orchards. It also attacks pears, walnuts and other tree fruits. As one of the most important invasive species in China, the codling moth first appeared in Kuerle, Xinjiang in 1953 and rapidly expanded in the whole area of Xinjiang. In 1987 the codling moth spread to Dunhuang, Gansu. Recently, researchers from the Institute of Plant Protection of China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University and so on initiated a genome-sequencing project of the codling moth. The genome size of the codling moth is 650 Mb as estimated by flow cytometry and survey sequencing. Since the heterozygosity is a potential obstacle in sequencing insect genome, the research consortium carefully measured the heterozygosity of the codling moth by SNP analysis and 17-mer estimation, showing that the heterozygosity of the codling moth is around 0.3%-0.6%. Adopting the whole genome shotgun strategy, a sequencing plan has been made and officially launched. The availability of the codling moth genome should be of great value to uncovering the molecular mechanisms of its invasion and high adaptive ability to stress and developing efficient control strategies of this pest worldwide and in China.