Isolation and characterization by direct amplification of length polymorphisms (DALP) of codominant genetic markers with Mendelian inheritance in Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

We report the first application of a new method designed to isolate polymorphic loci in any organism, the direct amplification of length polymorphism. Five polymorphic loci were readily isolated in the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Two to five alleles were identified among 46 isofemale lines based on fragment size variation due to micro-deletions/insertions. Genotyping F1 and F2 progenies from controlled heterogametic crosses and backcrosses allowed to establish the Mendelian inheritance of these alleles, their codominance, and pairwise recombination rates. Nucleotidic sequence divergence due to single base substitution was also found in the flanking regions of the polymorphism. We discuss the usefulness of these markers in studies of reproductive systems as well as population genetics, in particular, in mite species where the amount of DNA or richness in microsatellites could be limiting factors in the isolation of polymorphic loci.