Invasion origin, rapid population expansion, and the lack of genetic structure of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) in the Americas

• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5123
• Publication Date: 2019-06-17T15:36:44Z
• Authors: Rogério Martins G...; Thiago Mastrangelo; José Carlos Verle...; Daniel Fernando P...; Celso Omoto; Alberto Soares Co...; Ana Maria Lima de...
• Keywords: invasive pest; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; invasion route; Ecology; cotton bollworm; putative hybrids; Americas; QH540-549.5; Original Research

In 2013, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was officially declared as present in Brazil and, after two years, the species detected Caribbean and North America. Information on genetic features accurate distribution of pests is basis for agricultural protection policies. Furthermore, such knowledge imperative to develop control strategies, understand geographical range, patterns this Americas. Here, we carried out widest sampling H. South American continent Puerto Rico, estimated diversity, demographic parameters, structure. The Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) nuclear marker used investigate presence putative hybrids between zea, they were observed at a frequency 1.5%. An ABC analysis, based COI gene fragment, suggested Europe origin America specimens armigeraand following movement northward through Caribbean. Three mtDNA genes three nDNA markers revealed high diversity distributed without defined population structure Most variation within populations with multidirectional expansion among morphoclimatic regions. High rapid expansion, hybridization have implications pest management since suggest that adaptive alleles are spread wide areas favor local adaptation new disturbed environments (e.g., areas).