A geometric morphometric study on the host populations of the Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in some parts of Iran

Abstract :

The pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is one of the key pests causing severe yield losses in several crops such as cereals, pulses, cotton, vegetables and fruit crops as well as wild hosts in Iran. In this study, shapes and sizes of wings were compared in populations on 4 host plants (cotton, tomato, corn and chickpea) using a land mark – based geometric morphometric method, analysis of partial warp scores and centroid sizes. The results showed significantly smaller wing size in populations on cotton and a significant host plant–associated shape difference among populations. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) of shape variables in forewings indicated significant differences among populations. Simple analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the centroid size of cotton populations was significantly smaller than others. The analysis also showed a significant difference between the populations


Keyword :

Geometric morphometric, Sexual dimorphism, Thin plate- spline, Pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, Host populations


Author(s) : Khiaban, N. G. M. Z., Irani Nejad, K. H., Hejazi, M. S., Mohammadi, S. A., Sokhandan, N.
Downloads : 2840
Published Issue : 2010 Vol. 5 Number 1


2010 Vol. 5 Number 1