Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Spodoptera spp. as Agricultural Pests in Indonesia

Abstract

The genus Spodoptera comprises several morphologically similar lepidopteran pests that pose significant threats to agriculture. This study aimed to identify Spodoptera species collected from multiple regions in Indonesia and assess their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COX1) sequences. A total of 28 larval samples were selected and subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing. Species identification through BLAST analysis revealed the presence of Spodoptera litura and S. exigua. Phylogenetic analysis using the Maximum Likelihood method grouped the samples into distinct, well-supported clades corresponding to their species. Genetic diversity analysis showed five haplotypes in S. exigua and three haplotypes in S. litura. Both species displayed low diversity, suggesting recent introduction or limited genetic variation in the region. These findings confirm the utility of COX1 barcoding for accurate species identification and provide valuable insights into the genetic structure of Spodoptera populations in Indonesia.