The impact of Triticum aestivum L. cultivation management on genomic polymorphism of Harpalus rufipes and Silpha obscura assessed by RAPD markers

Abstract Beetle genetics is becoming increasingly important in research on agricultural ecosystems, not only from a basic biological perspective but also for practical applications in pest management, biodiversity, and agroecosystem sustainability. Our study analyzed the genetic variability of beetle populations ( Harpalus rufipes and Silpha obscura ) under two types of agricultural management systems—organic and conventional—using RAPD markers. Out of six tested markers (OPB 5, OPB 8, OPB 11, OPB 12, OPB 14, and OPB 18), three markers (OPB 11, OPB 14, and OPB 18) demonstrated clear genetic differentiation between beetle samples collected from organically and conventionally cultivated wheat. The results of DNA fingerprinting and t-SNE analysis confirmed the formation of two genetic clusters corresponding to the management type. Jaccard similarity coefficient values indicated moderate to strong genetic similarity within individual management systems, while similarity between systems was weaker. These findings suggest that agronomic practices influence the genetic structure of beetle populations, likely due to ecological and anthropogenic factors such as pesticide use and landscape modification. The study emphasizes the importance of molecular markers in assessing population-level responses to agroecosystem management and their contribution to sustainable agriculture.