Abstract
Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest in maize crops in Colombia, and affects several regions in America. A granulovirus isolated from S. frugiperda (SfGV VG008) has potential as an enhancer of insecticidal activity of previously described nucleopolyhedrovirus from the same insect species (SfMNPV). The SfGV VG008 genome was sequenced and analyzed showing circular double stranded DNA of 140,913 bp encoding 146 putative ORFs that include 37 Baculoviridae core genes, 88 shared with betabaculoviruses, two shared only with betabaculoviruses from Noctuide insects, two shared with alphabaculoviruses, three copies of own genes (paralogs) and the other 14 corresponding to unique genes without representation in the other baculovirus species. Particularly, the genome encodes for important virulence factors such as 4 chitinases and 2 enhancins. The sequence analysis revealed the existence of eight homologous regions (hrs) and also suggests processes of gene acquisition by horizontal transfer including the SfGV VG008 ORFs 046/047 (paralogs), 059, 089 and 099. The bioinformatics evidence indicates that the genome donors of mentioned genes could be alpha- and/or betabaculovirus species. The previous reported ability of SfGV VG008 to naturally co-infect the same host with other virus show a possible mechanism to capture genes and thus improve its fitness.
Highlights
IntroductionThe fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous insect of wide geographical distribution, considered the most important pest in maize (Zea mays L.) in the Americas [1]
This study revealed that 37 core proteins are a set of factors strongly conserved into Betabaculovirus genus because they probably play the essentials roles needed to complete the virus cycle
The gene content shows that SfGV VG008 possesses encoding sequences for other virulence factors to insecticidal activity, such as 3 chitinases and 2 enhancins homologs to other baculoviruses
Summary
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous insect of wide geographical distribution, considered the most important pest in maize (Zea mays L.) in the Americas [1]. The larvae consume the plant whorl affecting its growth, and complete defoliation could arise when epizooties occur. Control of S. frugiperda in maize crops includes the integration of cultural, physical, biological and chemical methods [2]. The control with broad spectrum and highly toxic synthetic chemical insecticides (categories I and II) is the main method for reducing the effects of the pest [3]. To reduce the damage and maintain pest levels below the economic threshold, some strategies, such as biological control, have been developed through the use of entomopathogenic viruses, mainly from Baculoviridae family or baculovirus, principally of the genus
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