Genetic Characterization and Evolution of Populations of Helicoverpa Amigera (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) Subservient to the Various Host Plants in the Niayes Zone (Senegal).

In Senegal, market gardening is one of the most important sectors. It makes it possible to reduce youth unemployment. However, vegetable farming faces several abiotic and biotic problems such as insect pests. The lepidopteran Noctuidae Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most formidable. This study aims to genetically characterize populations of Helicoverpa armigera on its host plants in the Niayes area using the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene to see if the host plants have an effect on the genetic structuring of insect populations. Genetic analyses have shown a great haplotypic diversity between the different host plants. A lack of genetic differentiation was also noted between the populations of the different host plants. Similarly, a lack of genetic structuring between the populations of the different host plants (B. oleracea, S. lycopersicum and C. annuum) was noted by a small percentage of variation between the host plants. Demogenetic tests indicate the hypothesis of an expanding population and this hypothesis is confirmed by the sum of the squares of the deviations (SSD) and the irregularity index (Rag) of the populations of H. armigera.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Not applicable

The datasets used in this study are openly available at [repository link] and the source code is available on GitHub at [GitHub link].

This work did not receive any external funding.