<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> Cytochrome oxidase I sequence of <i style="">Helicoverpa</i> (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) species in India—Its utility as a molecular tool </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>

Abstract

<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> The genus <i style="">Helicoverpa </i>comprises of 2 species in India—<i style="">H. armigera</i> and <i style="">H. assulta</i>. This paper compares partial CO-1 sequences of the two-field-collected species with a laboratory strain of <i style="">H. armigera</i> and <i style="">Drosophila yakuba</i> whose entire mitochondrial genome has been sequenced. The region sequenced in the study corresponds to 2111 to 2601 bp sequence of <i style="">D. yakuba</i> mitochondrial genome, i.e mid to near terminal segment of the CO-I region. When analyzed, at least 18 nucleotide and 8 amino acid substitutions were observed between the two species. Using this information, a specific PCR-RFLP tool was designed that distinguishes between the two species at the egg stage itself, thus, influencing pest control options significantly, especially in areas and crops where the two may occur simultaneously. </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>