Population genomics analyses reveal the role of hybridization in the rapid invasion of fall armyworm

作者：Xuan Wang, Zhenyong Du, Yuange Duan, Shanlin Liu, Jie Liu, Bingyan Li, Ling Ma, Yunfei Wu, Tian Li, Fan Song, Wanzhi Cai, Hu Li · 发表于：Journal of Advanced Research · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.jare.2024.09.028 · 被引用次数：20 · 研究领域：Insect Resistance and Genetics、Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms、Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms

INTRODUCTION: Invasive species pose a major threat to global biodiversity and agricultural productivity, yet the genomic mechanisms driving their rapid expansion into new habitats are not fully understood. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, originally from the Americas, has expanded its reach across the Old World, causing substantial reduction in crop yield. Although the hybridization between two genetically distinct strains has been well-documented, the role of such hybridization in enhancing the species' invasive capabilities remains largely unexplored. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the contributions of hybridization and natural selection to the rapid invasion of the fall armyworm. METHODS: We analyzed the whole-genome resequencing data from 432 individuals spanning its global distribution. We identified the genomic signatures of selection associated with invasion and explored their linkage with the Tpi gene indicating strain differentiation. Furthermore, we detected signatures of balancing selection in native populations for candidate genes that underwent selective sweeps during the invasion process. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed pronounced genomic differentiation between native and invasive populations. Invasive populations displayed a uniform genomic structure distinctly different from that of native populations, indicating hybridization between the strains during invasion. This hybridization likely contributes to maintaining high genetic diversity i...