GENETIC STRUCTURATION OF SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS ACCORDING TO 2 HOST PLANTS (MILLET AND MAIZE) IN SENEGAL (WEST AFRICA)

Abstract

Cereals play a very important economic and social function. However, they are deteriorated
by several insect pests including Sitophilus Zeamais, a beetle of the Curculionidae,
subservient to 2 host plants, millet and Maize. The genetic studies carried out so far have
focused on the genetic variability of Sitophilus Zeamais and its genetic structuring according
to agroecological and agro-climatic zones.
This article aims to highlight a possible genetic structuring of Sitophilus Zeamais according
to 2 host plants, millet and maize.
The importance of highlighting a genetic differentiation of the insect according to these 2
host plants is to be able to apprehend after the adaptability of the insect, from the effect of
each host plant on the genetic diversity of the plant population of the insect.
To achieve this goal, insects were harvested from each agro-ecological zone specifically on
maize and on millet.
The exploitation of 125 sequences of the Cytochrome B gene revealed the lack of genetic
structuring of Sitophilus Zeamais according to the two host plants, millet and maize. So,
these are the same insects that roam between them.