title: Molecular Identification of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) in Argentina and Development of a Novel PCR-RFLP Method for its Rapid Differentiation From H. zea and H. gelotopoeon.
abstract: Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) is among the most voracious global pests of agriculture. Adults of this species were identified recently in northern Argentina by dissection of male genitalia. In this work, a rapid and simple molecular tool was designed to distinguish H. armigera from the morphologically similar indigenous bollworms Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar), regardless of the life stage. Amplification of partial COI gene with a new primer pair, and subsequent digestion with endonuclease HinfI, yielded different RFLP profiles for the three main Helicoverpa pests currently present in South America. The method was validated in Helicoverpa specimens collected across Argentina, whose identity was further corroborated by COI sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The data reported here constitute the first molecular confirmation of this pest in the country. The survey revealed the occurrence of H. armigera in northern and central Argentina, including the main soybean- and maize-producing area.
authors: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, (1033) Buenos Aires, Argentina. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMyZA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Nicolás Repetto y de los Reseros, (1686) Hurlingham, Argentina. arneodo.joel@inta.gob.ar.
authors: Joel D
authors: JD
authors: Arneodo
authors: EEA- INTA Marcos Juárez, Ruta 12 km 3, (2580) Marcos Juárez, Argentina.
authors: Emilia I
authors: EI
authors: Balbi
authors: EEA- INTA Marcos Juárez, Ruta 12 km 3, (2580) Marcos Juárez, Argentina.
authors: Fernando M
authors: FM
authors: Flores
authors: Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMyZA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Nicolás Repetto y de los Reseros, (1686) Hurlingham, Argentina.
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Sciocco-Cap
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D058974:Phylogeography; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Helicoverpa; South America; barcode; biological invasion; old world bollworm