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Strain composition and genetic diversity of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): new insights from seven countries in West Africa

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Abstract

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, a major agricultural insect pest in the Western Hemisphere, currently also poses a significant threat to many cereal crops in Africa. FAW consists of two morphocryptic strains, the corn- and the rice strains, which were thought to display typical genetic, physiological and behavioural features. However, this is not absolutely true, rendering direct identification and distribution of the strains impossible in field. Thus, to investigate 1) the composition and diversity of FAW strains, 2) their distribution at various spatial scales, and 3) the host plants they use, in invaded countries we used the COI barcode fragment, a marker capable of accurately distinguishing the two strains. A total of 125 specimens mainly sampled on maize in Niger and Senegal and to a lesser extent in Guinea, Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde were analyzed. Sixteen haplotypes were identified among which two occurred very frequently. Phylogenetic analysis delineated two lineages, the rice and corn strains, but no typical geographical and host-plant patterns were found. The FAW-strain haplotypes derived from West African specimens were genetically comparable with those sampled elsewhere in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Considering all sites and plants sampled, the corn strain slightly predominated but on maize, the two strains were statistically comparable. Their distribution is largely sympatric at region, field and even maize plant scales. These findings are compared to populations recorded elsewhere and are discussed in the framework of biological invasions, and the management and ecology of the species.

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Availability of data and material

All sequences that support the findings of this study are available on GenBank under the Accession numbers listed in Table 1. All DNA extractions are stored at the Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP), Montferrier sur Lez (France) under the authority of N. Gauthier.

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Acknowledgements

This study was mainly funded by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), France, through funds provided to the International Research Grouping-South (IRG-South) on Biological Invasions in West African countries and a PhD grant for O.M. Sarr. We are also grateful to the West Africa Productivity Programme (WAAP/PPAAO) in Niger for complementary financial support. We would like to thank F. Bénédet (Forêts & Sociétés, CIRAD, Montpellier, France) for his help in the elaboration of the map using the software QGis.

Funding

This study was mainly funded by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), France, through funds provided to the International Research Grouping-South (IRG-South) on Biological Invasions in West African countries and a PhD grant for O.M. Sarr. The West Africa Productivity Programme (WAAP/PPAAO) in Niger provided additional financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UFR S2ATA, Université Gaston Berger (UGB), Saint-Louis, Sénégal

    Oumar Mal Sarr & Amadou Bocar Bal

  2. Direction Générale de La Protection Des Végétaux, Ministère de L’Agriculture, BP323, Niamey, Niger

    Madougou Garba

  3. Département de Biologie, Université Abdou Moumouni (UAM), Niamey, Niger

    Karmadine Hima

  4. CILSS - Centre Régional AGRHYMET, Niamey, Niger

    Mbaye Ndiaye

  5. CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Amandine Fossoud, Anne-Laure Clamens, Johannes Tavoillot & Nathalie Gauthier

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  1. Oumar Mal Sarr
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  2. Madougou Garba
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Contributions

M. G., A.B. B., M. N., K. H. and N. G. conceived the research. O.M. S., M. G., M. N., K. H. conducted field samplings. O.M. S., A. F., A-L. C. and J. T. conducted molecular experiments. N. G. conducted statistical and molecular analyses, and interpretations. N. G. wrote the manuscript. N.G, M. G. and A.B. B secured funding. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nathalie Gauthier.

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Sarr, O.M., Garba, M., Bal, A.B. et al. Strain composition and genetic diversity of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): new insights from seven countries in West Africa. Int J Trop Insect Sci 41, 2695–2711 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-021-00450-6

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