Current invasive species research being conducted at MSU
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Project 4

Project Title: Establishment and use of microsatellite loci to characterize Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) populations in North America and Asia
Investigators: Alicia M. Bray and James J. Smith
Contact: Alicia M. Bray (kingalic@msu.edu)

Abstract:
We propose to establish a set of microsatellite markers for assaying genetic variation in emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire; EAB) populations and to use this set of markers to characterize the invasion biology of this destructive pest.  Our primary experimental objectives are to screen a set of candidate PCR primer pairs to establish a set of 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci (markers) in EAB, and use these markers to assay genetic variability in EAB populations from both North America and Asia.  Microsatellite variability data will be used to test hypotheses about the geographic origin(s) of the North American EAB populations (population derivation), whether there were single or multiple introductions of EAB, and how EAB populations have spread across North America (invasion genetics).
Funded by MSU GREEEN (2007 RFP)

For more information:
James J. Smith, Ph.D.: http://www.msu.edu/user/jimsmith
MSU Project GREEEN: http://www.greeen.msu.edu/