Initial detections and spread of invasive Spodoptera frugiperda in China and comparisons with other noctuid larvae in cornfields using molecular techniques

AbstractThe fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda, is a species native to the Americas and has  spread to many countries in Africa and Asia in recent years. Proactive actions for potential invasion ofS. frugiperda to China coordinated by government agencies and agricultural extension systems resulted in timely detection in January 2019 in Yunnan province neighboring onto Myanmar. The extensive monitoring in southern provinces of China since February 2019 resulted in dynamic tracking ofS. frugiperda spreading to 13 provincial regions in China within 4 months by May 10, 2019, which is crucial for timely management actions in the fields. The first detections ofS. frugiperda (corn strain) in China were confirmed using cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi) genes molecular marker method. In addition toS. frugiperda, larvae of three other noctuid species with similar morphological appearance (S. litura,S. exigua andMythimna separata) can occur simultaneously and cause similar damage in cornfields in southern China. Thus, we can use both morphological and molecular marker methods to compare larval stages of four noctuid species. Further, we discuss the risk of potential spread of invasiveS. frugiperda to other regions and impact on corn production in China.
Source: Insect Science - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research