Title
Molecular Identification of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Using PCR-RFLP
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2007
Department
Biological Sciences
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, as with many noctuid moths, is a serious agricultural pest in the United States. Researchers often use pheromone traps to monitor for the presence of economically important noctuid pests. Pheromone traps may attract more than one species and samples often degrade, making morphological identification of some adult noctuid species nearly impossible. A molecular diagnostics protocol using polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was developed in order to distinguish the fall armyworm from six other noctuid species commonly found in Arkansas. A 611-bp region of the mtDNA COI, COII genes was amplified using PCR and then sequenced. The restriction enzymes Dra I, Alu Iand Nla III had specific restriction sites that distinguished the seven noctuid species. This proved to be a reliable, quick and economical technique for identifying the fall armyworm as well as six other noctuid species.
DOI
10.3954/1523-5475-24.2.51
First Page
51
Last Page
57
Publication Title
Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology
Recommended Citation
Lewter, J. A., and Szalanski, A. L. (2007). Molecular identification of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) using PCR-RFLP. Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology 24(2): 51-57. https://doi.org/10.3954/1523-5475-24.2.51
Comments
At the time of publication, Jennifer A. Lewter was affiliated with University of Arkansas.