Genetic Diversity of Common Bean Bruchids (Acanthoscelides obtectus and Zabrotes subfasciatus) From Different Bean Growing Regions of Tanzania

Abstract

Bruchid beetles (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) are seed-eating insects; most of their species’ feed on legumes. Bean crops around the world (especially Phaseolus vulgaris) are favorably attacked by the common bean weevil (Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say)) and Mexican bean weevil (Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman). A. obtectus and Z. subfasciatus are the main pests of beans. These pests are present in almost all bean-producing localities of Tanzania. This study aimed to identify the genetic diversity of bean bruchid weevils (A. obtectus and Z. subfasciatus) in Tanzania's bean-producing regions using molecular taxonomy (12S rRNA and COI markers). The results obtained did not show the genetic diversity of A. obtectus present in Tanzania but showed 100% identity. Z. subfasciatus showed 80.2% identity. Differences in some sequence alignment explained the genetic diversity observed between A. obtectus and Z. subfasciatus. Better knowledge of bruchid diversity present in Tanzania will help breeders and farmers propose effective management methods that impact environmental changes and human health.