Abstract
This study was undertaken to assess the genetic diversity and host plant races of M. vitrata population in South and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene was used to understand the phylogenetic relationship of geographically different M. vitrata population, but previous studies did not include population from Southeast Asia, the probable center of origin for Maruca, and from east Africa. Extensive sampling was done from different host plant species in target countries. Reference populations from Oceania and Latin America were used. An amplicon of 658 bp was produced by polymerase chain reaction, and 64 haplotypes were identified in 686 M. vitrata individuals. Phylogenetic analysis showed no difference among the M. vitrata population from different host plants. However, the results suggested that M. vitrata has formed two putative subspecies (which cannot be differentiated based on morphological characters) in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, as indicated by the high pairwise FST values (0.44–0.85). The extremely high FST values (≥0.93) of Maruca population in Latin America and Oceania compared to Asian and African population seem to indicate a different species. On the continental or larger geographical region basis, the genetic differentiation is significantly correlated with the geographical distance. In addition, two putative species of Maruca, including M. vitrata occur in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The negative Tajima’s D and Fu’s FS values showed the recent demographic expansion of Maruca population. The haplotype network and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery analyses confirmed the results of phylogenetic analysis. Thus, this study confirmed the presence of three putative Maruca species, including one in Latin America, one in Oceania (including Indonesia) and M. vitrata in Asia, Africa and Oceania. Hence, the genetic differences in Maruca population should be carefully considered while designing the pest management strategies in different regions.
Highlights
IntroductionMaruca vitrata (F.) (syn. M. testulalis) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is considered as the most serious pest of food legumes in tropical Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, North America, Australia and the Pacific [1]
When Mantel test was performed for country-based M. vitrata population in the current study, the results revealed no correlation between genetic differentiation (FST) and geographical distance (R2 = 0.505, p = 0.191) (Fig 1A)
The cox1 gene has been used to understand the phylogenetic relationship of geographically different M. vitrata population, but there are no previous studies that included M. vitrata population from Southeast Asia, the probable center of origin for Maruca, or population from East Africa
Summary
Maruca vitrata (F.) (syn. M. testulalis) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is considered as the most serious pest of food legumes in tropical Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, North America, Australia and the Pacific [1]. M. vitrata can feed on at least 45 different host plant species, mostly on legumes as well as two non-legume species, in tropical Asia and sub-Saharan Africa [1,2,3,4]. It is reported as a major pest on different cultivated legume species There are relatively few cultivated legumes that serve as host plants for M. vitrata in sub-Saharan Africa, cowpea (V. unguiculata) is the predominant host. Larvae create webs on floral buds, flowers and pods, inside of which they feed on the various plant parts [1]. Up to 80% of yield losses have been reported in various vegetable and grain legumes due to M. vitrata damage [9,10,11,12]
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