Genetic isolation of five Bombyx mandarina populations in islands around Kyushu, Japan

Abstract

 Mitochondrial COI gene fragments of five Bombyx mandarina populations from the islands of Tsushima, Yakushima, Tanegashima, Nakanoshima and Akusekijima were analyzed. These populations shared specific haplotypes apparently different from those found on the Japanese main islands. In the five island populations, different levels of genetic divergences were observed; Tsushima and Tanegashima populations share common haplotypes in similar frequencies, while Yakushima population has unique haplotypes. Nakanoshima and Akusekijima populations also share a common haplotype which is different from those found on the other three islands.