The spatial genetic differentiation of the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) populations in West Africa

AbstractThe legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, is an endemic insect pest that causes significant yield loss to the cowpea crop in West Africa. The application of population genetic tools is important in the management of insect pests but such data on M. vitrata is lacking. We applied a set of six microsatellite markers to assess the population structure of M. vitrata collected at five sites from Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. Observed polymorphisms ranged from one (marker 3393) to eight (marker 32008) alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.0 to 0.8 and 0.0 to 0.6, respectively. Three of the loci in samples from Nigeria and Burkina Faso deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE), whereas no loci deviated significantly in samples from Niger. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 67.3% level of the genetic variation was within individuals compared to 17.3% among populations. A global estimate of FST=0.1 (ENA corrected FST=0.1) was significant (P⩽0.05) and corroborated by pairwise FST values that were significant among all possible comparisons. A significant correlation was predicted between genetic divergence and geographic distance between subpopulations (R2=0.6, P=0.04), and cluster analysis by the program STRUCTURE predicted that co-ancestry of genotypes were indicative of three distinct populations. The spatial genetic variance among M. vitrata in West Africa may be due to limited gene flow, south-north seasonal movement pattern or other reproductive barriers. This information is important for the cultural, chemical and biological control strategies for managing M. vitrata.

Download Full-text

The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), an important insect pest of cowpea: a review emphasizing West Africa

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science ◽

10.1007/s42690-019-00024-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 93-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

N. M. Ba ◽

J. E. Huesing ◽

C. L. Dabiré-Binso ◽

M. Tamò ◽

B. R. Pittendrigh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Africa ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Maruca Vitrata ◽

Pod Borer ◽

Legume Pod Borer

Download Full-text

Infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes against the legume pod-borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius, infesting pigeon pea

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x21000043 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 95 ◽

Author(s):

R. Pervez ◽

U. Rao

Keyword(s):

Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Indian Agricultural Research Institute ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

Fourth Instar ◽

Maruca Vitrata ◽

Pod Borer ◽

Legume Pod Borer ◽

Maximum Penetration

Abstract The legume pod-borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) (LPB), is an important insect pest of pigeon pea. Chemical pesticides are generally employed to manage this pest, but because of the soil residue issues and other environmental hazards associated with their use, biopesticides are also in demand. Another benign alternative is to use entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) to manage this vital pest. In the present study, the infectivity of ten native EPNs was evaluated against LPB by assessing their penetration and production in the LPB. The effectiveness of the promising EPNs against second-, third- and fourth-instar LPB larvae was also studied. Heterorhabditis sp. (Indian Agricultural Research Institute-Entomopathogenic Nematodes Rashid Pervez (IARI-EPN RP) 06) and Oscheius sp. (IARI-EPN RP 08) were found to be most pathogenic to LPB, resulting in about 100% mortality within 72 h, followed by Steinernema sp. (IARI-EPN RP 03 and 09). Oscheius sp. (IARI-EPN RP 04) was found to be the least pathogenic to LPB larva with 67% mortality. Maximum penetration was exhibited by Heterorhabditis sp. (IARI-EPN RP 06) followed by Oscheius sp. (IARI-EPN RP 08), whereas the lowest rate of penetration was exhibited by Oscheius sp. (IARI-EPN RP 01). The highest rate of production was observed with Oscheius sp. (IARI-EPN RP 08), followed by Oscheius sp. (IARI-EPN RP 04 and 10). Among the tested instars of the LPB larvae, second-instar larvae were more susceptible to EPNs, followed by third- and fourth-instar larvae. The results indicate that Heterorhabditis sp. (IARI-EPN RP 06) and Oscheius sp. (IARI-EPN RP 08) have a good potential to the manage LPB.

Download Full-text

Annual cycle of the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in southwestern Burkina Faso

Arthropod-Plant Interactions ◽

10.1007/s11829-014-9297-0 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 155-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Fousséni Traore ◽

Niango Malick Ba ◽

Clémentine L. Dabire-Binso ◽

Antoine Sanon ◽

Barry Robert Pittendrigh

Keyword(s):

Burkina Faso ◽

Annual Cycle ◽

Maruca Vitrata ◽

Pod Borer ◽

Legume Pod Borer

Download Full-text

Distribution and diversity of alternate hosts of Maruca vitrata Fabricius in three West African countries

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science ◽

10.1007/s42690-021-00470-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Prince Christopher Addae ◽

Y. Anani Bruce ◽

Iliyasu M. Utono ◽

Mumuni Abudulai ◽

Fousseni Traore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Burkina Faso ◽

Insect Pests ◽

West African ◽

Maruca Vitrata ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

High Dose ◽

Alternate Host ◽

African Countries ◽

Alternate Hosts ◽

Pod Borer

AbstractThe evolution of resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins by insect pests is a major threat to Bt technology. However, the rate of resistance can be slowed with appropriate integrated insect resistance management (IRM) strategies. Surveys were conducted to identify alternate host species for Maruca vitrata (commonly called the legume pod borer or Maruca) that could serve as refuges for Pod-Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea in three West African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso). Survey sites included 25 in northern Ghana, 44 in northern Nigeria, and 52 in north-central and southwestern Burkina Faso. Alternate hosts of Maruca identified from plant species belonging to the Fabaceae family that showed signs of Maruca damage on cowpea tissues were collected and dissected. Larvae that were found during these dissections were reared to adult moths in the laboratory then identified to species. The alternate host plants including species of Crotolaria, Sesbania, Tephrosia, and Vigna were the most frequently encountered among sites and locations. Flowering and podding of these plants overlapped with flowering and podding of the nearby (~200 m) cowpea crop. Abundance of these wild hosts and overlapping flowering patterns with the cowpea crop in most locations have the potential to sustain ample numbers of Bt susceptible Maruca that will mate with possible resistant Maruca and deter resistance development. Further quantitative studies, however, are required from each location to determine if actual Maruca production from alternate hosts is sufficient for a PBR IRM strategy. If verified, this approach would be compatible with the high dose/refuge IRM strategy that includes alternate hosts and non-Bt crops as refuges.

Download Full-text

Effect of Native Soap on Insect Pests and Grain Yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) in Asaba and Abraka during the Late Cropping Season in Delta State, Nigeria

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v1n2p275 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 275 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. O. Egho ◽

E. C. Enujeke

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Block Design ◽

Maruca Vitrata ◽

Flower Bud ◽

Megalurothrips Sjostedti ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Cropping Season ◽

Pod Borer ◽

Legume Pod Borer

Studies were conducted to test the effectiveness of native soap against cowpea insect pests during the late cowpea cropping season in two agro-ecological zones-Asaba and Abraka, Delta State. Four major insect pests, namely the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, the legume flower bud thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti Tryb, the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fab and pod sucking bugs were studied. The experiment was made up of five treatments-1, 2 and 3 percent concentrations of native soap, cypermethrin (as conventional chemical and check) and a control. Each treatment was replicated three times. The experiment was arranged into a randomised complete block design (RCBD). The results showed that all the major insect pests occurred in the study areas but were more at Asaba compared to Abraka. Native soap was effective against A. craccivora and flower bud thrips population at Asaba. Maruca vitrata was not affected by soap application. Grain yield was high at Abraka and significantly (P<0.05) higher than Asaba. The use of native soap as non-conventional insecticide in cowpea insect pests management appears promising, more so as it is not expensive and safe to handle. Farmers may prefer it to synthetic chemical pesticides with their associated dangers.

Download Full-text