First molecular genetic evidence for automictic parthenogenesis in cockroaches

• 来源期刊: 中国昆虫科学（英文版）
• 关键词: American cockroach automixis microsatellite Periplaneta thelytoky
• 年，卷（期）: 2019,（4）
• 页码范围: 649-655
• 页数: 7页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12572

摘要

Parthenogenesis is an asexual mode of reproduction that plays an important role in the evolution of sex,sociality,and reproduction strategies in insects.Some species of cockroach exhibit thelytoky,a type of parthenogenesis in which female offspring are produced without fertilization.However,the cytological and genetic mechanisms of parthenogenesis in cockroaches are not well understood.Here we provide the first molecular genetic evidence that cockroaches can reproduce through automixis.Using the American cockroach Periplaneta americana,we performed microsatellite analysis to investigate the genetic relationship between parthenogenetically produced nymphs and the parent virgin females,and found that all parthenogenetic offspring were homozygous for autosomal microsatellite markers,whereas the female parents were heterozygous.In addition,flow cytometry analysis revealed that the parthenogenetic offspring were diploid.Taken together,our results demonstrate that P.americana exhibits automixis-type thelytoky,in which diploidy is restored by gamete duplication or terminal fusion.These findings highlight the unique reproduction strategies of cockroaches,which are more varied than was previously recognized.