Satellitome of the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the Most Diverse Among Insects

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus , is the most harmful species among those pests affecting trees. Its impact causes important economic losses around World. Nevertheless, genetic information of Rh. very scarce. Last year, first genome assembly was published including a rough description its repeatome. However, no has been added about one main components repeated DNA, satellite DNA. Herein, we presented characterization satellitome this that includes 112 DNA families, largest number in an insect genome. These families made up 25% while abundant family, RferSat01-169, alone represented 20.4%. Chromosomal location performed by fluorescence situ hybridization showed all them are dispersed euchromatin on chromosomes but some also specifically accumulated either pericentromeric heterochromatic regions or specific chromosomes. Finally, transcription analyzed through development. It found 55 out transcription, seemed to be transcribed across stages few appeared stage-specific, indicating possible role sequences development species.