M. Mcmichael et Dp. Prowell, Differences in amplified fragment-length polymorphisms in fall armyworm (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) host strains, ANN ENT S A, 92(2), 1999, pp. 175-181
Amplified fragment-length polymorphic (AFLP) loci were examined in the fall
armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), to assess their ability to
distinguish 2 host-associated strains. Cluster analyses of variation at 10
AFLP loci amplified with 5 primer pairs revealed 2 groups. Each group conta
ined a majority of individuals from 1 or the other host-associated strain a
s defined by habitat and mtDNA type. Discordance between habitat/mtDNA stra
in assignments and AFLPs occurred more frequently in the rice strain (8%) t
han in the corn strain (3%), and at a frequency of 5% overall. Results indi
cate that AFLPs exhibit strain-specific variation comparable to that of mtD
NA and allozymes. In combination with other markers, AFLP loci will be usef
ul for developing a system for identification of fall armyworm strains and
hybrids.