Genetic homogeneity between populations of cotton bollworm from Xinjiang, China

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 309 - 315
• Main Authors: Wang, Dongmei, Yang, Xianming, Li, Haiqiang, Wuwaishi, Akedan, Ding, Ruifeng, Li, Haobin, Pan, Hongsheng, Liu, Jian, Xu, Yao, Lu, Yanhui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2018; 한국응용곤충학회
• Subjects: Gene flow; Helicoverpa armigera; Migration; Mitochondrial DNA; Population genetic structure; 농수해양학; Gene flow; Mitochondrial DNA; Helicoverpa armigera; Population genetic structure; Migration
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2018.01.014

We studied the population structure of cotton bollworm (CBW), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Xinjiang, the largest cotton-growing region in China, using a fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Alignments of all 192 COI sequences revealed 28 haplotypes including 23 in southern Xinjiang, 5 in eastern Xinjiang and 13 in northern Xinjiang. Negative and significant values of neutrality tests for the Tajima's D and Fu's FS parameters, combined with the high values of haplotype diversity (Hd), low values of nucleotide diversity (π) and a high number of low frequency haplotypes indicated a recent demographic expansion of Xinjiang CBW populations. Analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) indicated low and non-significant genetic structure, regardless of geographical scale or crop, with most of genetic variation occurring within local CBW populations. Pairwise FST analyses also indicated low genetic differentiation. This demographic event and high gene flow could be responsible for the low genetic structure currently found. CBW populations in Xinjiang need to be considered as one panmictic unit in its management, especially for the design of refuges to delay the development of resistance by this migratory pest to transgenic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton. [Display omitted] •Xinjiang is divided into southern, eastern and northern areas by the Tianshan Mountain.•The population structure of cotton bollworm in Xinjiang is studied.•Low genetic differentiation of cotton bollworm populations is observed.•A recent demographic expansion of cotton bollworm populations in Xinjiang occur.