Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2019) 167, 129-140

Sofia V. Fogliata, María I. Herrero, Martín A. Vera, Atilio P. Castagnaro, Gerardo Gastaminza and María G. Murúa (2019)
Host plant or geographic barrier? Reproductive compatibility among Diatraea saccharalis populations from different host plant species and locations in Argentina
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 167 (2), 129-140
Abstract: The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is one of the main lepidopteran pests of sugarcane and maize. The association of insects with different environments and/or host plants may occur by adaptation and this can generate host races. Adaptation may produce phenotypic or genotypic variation, which results in the differences in bioecological characteristics such as reproductive compatibility that reduces gene flow among populations. The objective of this study was to determine the reproductive compatibility of three population combinations collected in various geographic locations and from different host plants, thereby determining the influence of geographic distance and/or insect plant association. Interpopulation crosses of D. saccharalis populations from Tucumán (maize and sugarcane) and Jujuy (sugarcane) provided evidence of pre-zygotic and post-zygotic incompatibility. The results indicate that gene flow barriers are influenced by the host plant. However, populations from various locations revealed that geographical location is the main factor influencing gene flow among populations of D. saccharalis.
(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): Atilio Pedro Castagnaro, M. Gabriela Murua

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Diatraea saccharalis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Argentina
	Diatraea saccharalis	Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)	Argentina