Genetic diversity analysis of Sogatella furcifera by using novel microsatellite markers

White-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is known as a major rice and long-range migratory pest in Asia. Microsatellite marker (SSR) is widely used to perceive the origins and genetic diversity of insect pest. Samples were collected from Laos, Vietnam and 3 localities in Bangladesh, and we characterized novel 12 microsatellite loci of S. furcifera by using next-generation Roche 454 pyrosequencing technologies. We used 40 adult individuals collected from Shinan to test utility of ten microsatellite loci. The average of alleles per locus were 7.92. The mean of observed (H_O) and expected heterozygosities (H_E) were 0.615 and 0.757 respectively. These new microsatellite markers will be widely used in future ecological genetic studies of S. furcifera, including gene flow and genetic diversity among the population that are necessary for effective management and observing of the species. Furthermore, we used these markers to determine genetic diversity for S. furcifera specimens collected from Korea (Shinan), Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam and four different sites of Bangladesh in 2012, and China, Nepal ,Thailand, two different sites of Bangladesh, and fifteen different sites of Korea in 2013. The genetic variability estimates for each S. furcifera population infer from the ten microsatellite loci included the observed (H_O) and expected (H_E) heterozygosity and the inbreeding coefficient. H_O ranged from 0.275 – 0.615 (mean = 0.441) and H_E ranged from 0.574 - 0.790 (mean = 0.671). The F_IS ranged from  0.0467 in Vietnam to 0.5855 in Jindo (Korea), with mean of 0.3554 across loci. In genetic variability estimates for each S. furcifera population in Asia, inferred from twelve microsatellite markers, Shinan has a highest number of H_O 0.615. This result shows the possibility of variation of the migration source. We speculate Vietnam as the origin of S. furcifera in Korea by the low number of F_IS and high number of H_O. The genetic variability estimates for each S. furcifera population in Korea, Changnyung, Gosung, Milyang, Shinan and Taean show high estimation of H_O. All of these sites located in south and southeast part of Korea and may assume variability of migration origin. This study provides useful data to forecast the migration and origin of S. furcifera. This information about migration pattern may develop sustainable pest management strategies of this long-range migratory pest.