Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2008) 128, 154-161

G.O. Ong'amo, B.P. Le Rü, P. Moyal, P.-A. Calatayud, P. Le Gall, C.P.K.O. Ogol, E.D. Kokwaro, C. Capdevielle-Dulac and J.-F. Silvain (2008)
Host plant diversity of Sesamia calamistis: cytochrome b gene sequences reveal local genetic differentiation
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 128 (1), 154-161
Abstract: Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the indigenous stem borer pests associated with maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] (both Poaceae) in Africa. Its pest status varies across the continent and this has been attributed to variation in diet breadth and ecological preferences among populations. Its larvae were found on 12 plant species during a study initiated at four sites (Muhaka, Mtito Andei, Kakamega, and Suam) in Kenya to estimate its diet breadth and genetic population structure. Ten of the infested plant species belonged to the family Poaceae [Echinochloa haploclada (Stapf) Stapf, Eleusine corocana L., Eleusine jaegeri Pilg., Panicum deustum Thunb, Panicum maximum Jacquin, Pennisetum purpureum Schumacher, Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv., Sorghum arundinaceum (Desvaux) Stapf, S. bicolor, and Z. mays]; the other two were Cyperaceae: Cyperus distans L. and Cyperus dives Delile. Combined with collections from other African countries (Uganda, South Africa, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo), comparisons of partial cytochrome b sequences revealed the presence of 68 haplotypes that differentiated into clades I and II. In Kenya, the two clades colonized different regions, except in Mtito Andei where they co-existed. Individuals from Mtito Andei could be separated based on their host plants: clade I with 14 haplotypes was found mainly on maize (78.6%), whereas clade II with 10 haplotypes was found mainly among wild host plants (63.6%). Detection of divergence among these clades with cytochrome b suggests that their evolutionary separation may have taken place about one million years ago. This article discusses the potential implication of this differentiation for the management of S. calamistis as a pest of maize and sorghum in Africa.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): George Otieno Ong'amo, Paul-Andre Calatayud, Callistus K.P.O. Ogol, Elizabeth Kokwaro, Bruno Le Rü, Philippe Le Gall, Pascal Moyal

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sesamia calamistis		Benin
	Sesamia calamistis		Ghana
	Sesamia calamistis		Nigeria
	Sesamia calamistis		Togo
	Sesamia calamistis		Uganda
	Sesamia calamistis		South Africa
	Sesamia calamistis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Kenya
	Sesamia calamistis	Sorghum (crop)	Kenya
	Sesamia calamistis	Cenchrus (crop)	Kenya
	Sesamia calamistis	Eleusine (crop)	Kenya