Mitochondrial DNA genomes of five major Helicoverpa pest species from the Old and New Worlds (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Five species of noctuid moths, Helicoverpa armigera, H. punctigera, H. assulta, H. zea, and H. gelotopoeon, are major agricultural pests inhabiting various and often overlapping global distributions. Visual identification of these species requires a great deal of expertise and misidentification can have repercussions for pest management and agricultural biosecurity. Here, we report on the complete mitochondrial genomes of H. assulta assulta and H. assulta afra, H. gelotopoeon, H. punctigera, H. zea, and H. armigera armigera and H. armigera conferta’ assembled from high‐throughput sequencing data. This study significantly increases the mitogenome resources for these five agricultural pests with sequences assembled from across different continents, including an H. armigera individual collected from an invasive population in Brazil. We infer the phylogenetic relationships of these five Helicoverpa species based on the 13 mitochondrial DNA protein‐coding genes (PCG's) and show that two publicly available mitogenomes of H. assulta (KP015198 and KR149448) have been misidentified or incorrectly assembled. We further consolidate existing PCR‐RFLP methods to cover all five Helicoverpa pest species, providing an updated method that will contribute to species differentiation and to future monitoring efforts of Helicoverpa pest species across different continents. We discuss the value of Helicoverpa mitogenomes to assist with species identification in view of the context of the rapid spread of H. armigera in the New World. With this work, we provide the molecular resources necessary for future studies of the evolutionary history and ecology of these species.CSIRO Health and Biosecurity project “Genes of Biosecurity Significance” (R‐8681‐1) to WTT and TKW. CSIRO Land and Water for funding TKW (R‐90204‐01) CSIRO Office of the Chief Executive postdoctoral fellowship funding (R‐03255‐01) to CA. CC was funded by FAPEG (Fundação de amparo a pesquisa do estado de Goiás; Grant number: Helicoverpa/2013102670001419). USDA‐ARS for funding research of OPP. TW, WTT and KHJG would like to thank CMK for motivation and support

Mitochondrial DNA and trade data support multiple origins of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in Brazil

The Old World bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is now established in Brazil but efforts to identify incursion origin(s) and pathway(s) have met with limited success due to the patchiness of available data. Using international agricultural/horticultural commodity trade data and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene markers, we inferred the origins and incursion pathways into Brazil. We detected 20 mtDNA haplotypes from six Brazilian states, eight of which were new to our 97 global COI-Cyt b haplotype database. Direct sequence matches indicated five Brazilian haplotypes had Asian, African, and European origins. We identified 45 parsimoniously informative sites and multiple substitutions per site within the concatenated (945 bp) nucleotide dataset, implying that probabilistic phylogenetic analysis methods are needed. High diversity and signatures of uniquely shared haplotypes with diverse localities combined with the trade data suggested multiple incursions and introduction origins in Brazil. Increasing agricultural/horticultural trade activities between the Old and New Worlds represents a significant biosecurity risk factor. Identifying pest origins will enable resistance profiling that reflects countries of origin to be included when developing a resistance management strategy, while identifying incursion pathways will improve biosecurity protocols and risk analysis at biosecurity hotspots including national portsESC and IBM were supported by CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, the Brazilian Government’s, Science without Boarders (Ciência sem Fronteiras) summer internship program (242166/2012–1 (ESC); 209297/2013-1 (IBM)), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) scholarships. CA was supported by a CSIRO OCE Post Doctoral Fellowship (R-03255-01). WTT and TKW acknowledged funing support from CSIRO Health & Biosecurity ‘Genes of Biosecurity Significance’ (R-8681-1). CC acknowledges funding support from FAPEG (Fundação de amparo a pesquisa do estado de Goiás) (Grant number: Helicoverpa/2013102670001419)

EFICIÊNCIA DE INSETICIDAS PARA O CONTROLE DE Plutella xylostella (LEPIDOPTERA: PLUTELLIDAE) NA CULTURA DO REPOLHO (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) COMPARISON OF INSECTICIDE CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS OF Plutella xylostella (LEPIDOPTERA: PLUTELLIDAE) IN CABBAGE

&lt;!-- @page { margin: 2cm } --&gt; &lt;p class="western" align="justify"&gt;O presente trabalho foi conduzido em uma área sob plantio contínuo de repolho (&lt;em&gt;Brassica oleracea var. capitata&lt;/em&gt;) em Goianápolis - GO, no período de setembro a novembro de 1996, visando comparar inseticidas para o controle da traça-das-crucíferas (&lt;em&gt;Plutella xylostella&lt;/em&gt;). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com oito tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: teflubenzuron, nas doses de 25 mL, 30 mL e 40 mL de produto comercial (p.c.)/100 L de água; chlorfenapyr, nas doses de 30 mL, 50 mL e 100 mL de p.c./100 L de água; deltamethrin, na dose de 30 mL de p.c./100 L de água; e testemunha. Para cada tratamento realizaram-se aplicações semanais após o transplantio. As avaliações foram realizadas na colheita, contando-se o número de furos causados pela traça, em cinco cabeças comerciais de repolho, tomadas ao acaso, por parcela. Pôde-se concluir que os inseticidas teflubenzuron e chlorfenapyr foram mais eficientes que deltamethrin no controle da traça-das-crucíferas&lt;em&gt; P. xylostella&lt;/em&gt; nas doses testadas.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="western" align="justify"&gt;PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Inseticida; traça; controle químico.&lt;/p&gt;<br>&lt;!-- @page { margin: 2cm } --&gt; &lt;p class="western" align="justify"&gt;The research was carried out in an area under continuous cabbage cropping (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) in Goianápolis, Goiás State, Brazil, from September to November 1996. The aim was to compare insecticides for diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) control. The experimental design was randomized blocks with eight treatments and four replications. The treatments were teflubenzuron in the doses of 25 mL, 30 mL and 40 mL of commercial product (c.p.) / 100 L of water; chlorfenapyr in the doses of 30 mL, 50 mL and 100 mL of c.p./ 100 L of water; deltamethrin in the dose of 30 mL of c.p. / 100 L of water; and control. Treatments were applied weekly after transplanting. Evaluations were made at harvesting, counting the number of holes caused by moth in five randomly chosen commercial cabbage heads per plot. The insecticides teflubenzuron and chlorfenapyr were more efficient than deltamethrin in the control of moth P. xylostella.&lt;/p&gt

SELETIVIDADE DE INSETICIDAS AO COMPLEXO DE INIMIGOS NATURAIS NA CULTURA DO ALGODÃO (Gossypium hirsutum L.) SELECTIVITY OF INSECTICIDES ON THE COMPLEX OF NATURAL ENEMIES IN COTTON CROP (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

&lt;!-- @page { margin: 2cm } --&gt; &lt;p class="western" align="justify"&gt;Avaliou-se a seletividade de inseticidas sobre o complexo de inimigos naturais na cultura do algodão (&lt;em&gt;Gossypium hirsutum L.&lt;/em&gt;), no município de Goiânia, GO. Utilizou-se a cultivar Deltapine e o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram: testemunha, thiamethoxam (300 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), lufenuron (300 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), betacyflutrin (800 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), imidacloprid (70 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), diflubenzuron (6,0 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), endosulfan (1500 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), em suas apresentações comerciais. A pulverização dos inseticidas foi efetuada aos 45 dias após a emergência das plantas. Além da avaliação prévia, foram efetuadas avaliações aos três e sete dias após a aplicação dos inseticidas. As amostragens foram realizadas através do método de batida de pano, com duas batidas ao acaso por parcela, identificando-se e contando-se, o número de inimigos naturais presentes. Três dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos, os inseticidas thiamethoxam (300 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), lufenuron (300 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;) e diflubenzuron (60 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;-1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;), considerando os produtos comerciais, não apresentaram efeito de choque sobre o complexo de inimigos naturais presentes na cultura do algodoeiro. Entretanto, aos sete dias após a aplicação, apenas o tratamento com lufenuron manteve a seletividade.a esses artrópodes predadores.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="western" align="justify"&gt;PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Inseticida; controle biológico; &lt;em&gt;Gossypium&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;<br>&lt;!-- @page { margin: 2cm } --&gt; &lt;p class="western" align="justify"&gt;The selectivity of insecticides was evaluated in the complex of natural enemies of the cotton (&lt;em&gt;Gossypium hirsutum L&lt;/em&gt;.) crop. The cultivar Deltapine was used in a randomized block experimental design, with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments, all in their commercial formulation, were: control; thiamethoxam (300 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;); lufenuron (300 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;); betacyflutrin (800 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;); imidacloprid (70g.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;); diflubenzuron (6,0 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;); and endosulfan (1500 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;). The insecticides were sprayed at 45 days after germination. Besides the initial evaluation, other evaluations were performed three and seven days after insecticide application. Each plot was sampled by the fabric beating method, with two random beatings per plot. Natural enemies were identified and counted. Three days after application, the insecticides thiamethoxam (300 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;), lufenuron (300 mL.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;), and diflubenzuron (60 g.ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) did not showed negative effect on the complex of predators present in the cotton. However, seven days after application, only the lufenuron treatment maintained the selective effect over predator complex.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="western"&gt;KEY-WORDS: Insecticide; biological control; &lt;em&gt;Gossypium&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt

Global population genomic signature of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) supports complex introduction events across the Old World.

Native to the Americas, the invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; FAW) was reported in West Africa in 2016, followed by its chronological detection across the Old World and the hypothesis of an eastward Asia expansion. We explored population genomic signatures of American and Old World FAW and identified 12 maternal mitochondrial DNA genome lineages across the invasive range. 870 high-quality nuclear single nucleotide polymorphic DNA markers identified five distinct New World population clusters, broadly reflecting FAW native geographical ranges and the absence of host-plant preferences. We identified unique admixed Old World populations, and admixed and non-admixed Asian FAW individuals, all of which suggested multiple introductions underpinning the pest's global spread. Directional gene flow from the East into eastern Africa was also detected, in contrast to the west-to-east spread hypothesis. Our study demonstrated the potential of population genomic approaches via international partnership to address global emerging pest threats and biosecurity challenges

Global population genomic signature of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) supports complex introduction events across the Old World.

Funder: Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000977Funder: Bayer | Bayer CropScience; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/100008791Native to the Americas, the invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; FAW) was reported in West Africa in 2016, followed by its chronological detection across the Old World and the hypothesis of an eastward Asia expansion. We explored population genomic signatures of American and Old World FAW and identified 12 maternal mitochondrial DNA genome lineages across the invasive range. 870 high-quality nuclear single nucleotide polymorphic DNA markers identified five distinct New World population clusters, broadly reflecting FAW native geographical ranges and the absence of host-plant preferences. We identified unique admixed Old World populations, and admixed and non-admixed Asian FAW individuals, all of which suggested multiple introductions underpinning the pest's global spread. Directional gene flow from the East into eastern Africa was also detected, in contrast to the west-to-east spread hypothesis. Our study demonstrated the potential of population genomic approaches via international partnership to address global emerging pest threats and biosecurity challenges