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Title: Genetic variability of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Western Hemisphere

Author
item BELAY, DIFABACHEW - University Of Nebraska
item CLARK, PETE - Monsanto Corporation
item Skoda, Steven
item ISENHOUR, DAVID - Monsanto Biotechnology
item FOSTER, JOHN - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Entomology Society America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2011
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a migratory and polyphagous pest of both cultivated and uncultivated plant species in the Western Hemisphere. We investigated the genetic diversity of FAW by collecting 31 representative samples from the United States, Argentina, Panama, and Puerto Rico using amplified fragment length polymorphism. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that the majority (71.2%) of the total genetic variation was within populations; the remaining 28% of the variation was among populations within a region. Similarly, dendrograms of results from cluster analysis showed the lack of regional genetic structuring. Moreover, the isolation by distance analysis indicated that there is no significant correlation between genetic dissimilarity and geographic distance. These results imply that gene flow occurs between these populations. This is important information when developing pest management strategies or in tracking or combating insecticide resistance in FAW.

Technical Abstract: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a migratory and polyphagous pest of both cultivated and uncultivated plant species in the Western Hemisphere. We investigated the genetic diversity of FAW by collecting 31 representative samples from the United States, Argentina, Panama, and Puerto Rico using amplified fragment length polymorphism. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that the majority (71.2%) of the total genetic variation was within populations; the remaining 28% of the variation was among populations within a region. Similarly, dendrograms of results from cluster analysis showed the lack of regional genetic structuring. Moreover, the isolation by distance analysis indicated that there is no significant correlation between genetic dissimilarity and geographic distance. These results imply that gene flow occurs between these populations. This is important information when developing pest management strategies or in tracking or combating insecticide resistance in FAW.