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It is generally accepted that the process of insect mass-rearing, used to apply the sterile insect technique, promotes adaptation to the captive environment and a reduction in the genetic diversity of the population. Here, we compare the genetic diversity of two mass-reared strains of the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens) and a wild population, using nuclear DNA. In this study, we found similar values of heterozygosity, allelic richness, and level of inbreeding among strains. These results indicate that mass-rearing conditions do not always reduce genetic diversity. Our findings contribute to understanding the genetic make-up resulting from adaptation to mass-rearing conditions.

The application of the sterile insect technique (SIT) requires the adaptation of insects to mass-rearing conditions. It is generally accepted that this adaptation may include a reduction in genetic diversity and an associated loss of desirable characteristics for the effective performance of sterile insects in the field. Here, we compare the genetic diversity of two mass-reared strains of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, and a wild (WIL) population collected near Tapachula, Mexico, using seven DNA microsatellites as molecular genetic markers. The mass-reared strains were a bisexual laboratory strain (LAB) with approximately 130 generations under mass-rearing and a genetic sexing strain, Tapachula-7 (TA7), also under mass-rearing for 100 generations. Our results revealed an overall low level of genetic differentiation (approximately 15%) among the three strains, with the LAB and WIL populations being …