TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic Diversity of the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
AU - Malekera, Matabaro Joseph
AU - Mamba, Damas Mamba
AU - Bushabu, Gauthier Bope
AU - Murhula, Justin Cishugi
AU - Hwang, Hwal Su
AU - Lee, Kyeong Yeoll
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - In 2016, the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, invaded western Africa and rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa, causing significant losses in yields of corn, a major food crop in Africa. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a large corn-growing country, the impact of FAW has not been investigated. This study was designed to expand investigations on the genetic diversity of FAW populations in the DRC. We collected FAW individuals from eight provinces across the country, for analysis of genetic variation. Based on the partial sequences of both mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi) genes, we compared polymorphic features of the COI haplotype and Tpi single nucleotide polymorphisms. The results revealed that most (84%) of the analyzed individuals were heterogeneous hybrids Tpi-corn/COI-rice (Tpi-C/COI-R), whereas 16% were homogenous Tpi-corn/COI-corn (Tpi-C/COI-C). Further analysis of the fourth exon/intron sequences of the Tpi gene identified two subgroups, TpiCa1 and TpiCa2, constituting 80% and 20%, respectively, of the collected individuals. Analysis of genetic variation among native and invasive populations indicated significant genetic differences (10.94%) between the native American and DRC populations, whereas both the DRC and African populations were genetically closer to Asian than American populations. This study provides important information on FAW genetic diversity in the DRC, which can be used for effective management of FAW.
AB - In 2016, the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, invaded western Africa and rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa, causing significant losses in yields of corn, a major food crop in Africa. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a large corn-growing country, the impact of FAW has not been investigated. This study was designed to expand investigations on the genetic diversity of FAW populations in the DRC. We collected FAW individuals from eight provinces across the country, for analysis of genetic variation. Based on the partial sequences of both mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi) genes, we compared polymorphic features of the COI haplotype and Tpi single nucleotide polymorphisms. The results revealed that most (84%) of the analyzed individuals were heterogeneous hybrids Tpi-corn/COI-rice (Tpi-C/COI-R), whereas 16% were homogenous Tpi-corn/COI-corn (Tpi-C/COI-C). Further analysis of the fourth exon/intron sequences of the Tpi gene identified two subgroups, TpiCa1 and TpiCa2, constituting 80% and 20%, respectively, of the collected individuals. Analysis of genetic variation among native and invasive populations indicated significant genetic differences (10.94%) between the native American and DRC populations, whereas both the DRC and African populations were genetically closer to Asian than American populations. This study provides important information on FAW genetic diversity in the DRC, which can be used for effective management of FAW.
KW - climate change
KW - fall armyworm
KW - genetic diversity
KW - invasive pest
KW - quarantine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85168684786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/agronomy13082175
DO - 10.3390/agronomy13082175
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85168684786
SN - 2073-4395
VL - 13
JO - Agronomy
JF - Agronomy
IS - 8
M1 - 2175
ER -
