Characterization of the mitochondrial genome of the lawn cutworm Spodoptera depravata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

The lawn cutworm, Spodoptera depravata, is one of the most important pests that causes economic damage to grass crops. This study reports the complete mitochondrial genome of an S. depravata sample collected in China. The genome is a circular molecule 15,460 bp in length with an overall A + T content of 81.6%. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The gene content and organization of the mitogenome of S. depravata are identical to those of other Spodoptera species. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on mitogenomes showed a close evolutionary relationship between S. depravata and S. exempta. This study provides new molecular data for the identification and further phylogenetic analyses of Spodoptera species.

Keywords:

• Spodoptera depravata
• mitochondrial genome
• phylogenetic analysis
• Noctuidae

Ethical approval

Spodoptera depravata is a common pest on grass crops in China. Therefore, no ethical approval or other relevant permission can be provided for the study.

Authors’ contributions

Xinyue Liang and Lei Zhang collected and identified the specimens; Xinyue Liang and Zaiyuan Li analyzed the data; Xinyue Liang wrote the manuscript; Lei Zhang and Zaiyuan Li revised the manuscript. Yutao Xiao conceived and designed the project, and finally approved the version to be published. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest is reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The genome sequence data that support the findings of this study are openly available in GenBank of NCBI at (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) under accession no. OK053108. The associated BioProject, BioSample, and SRA numbers are PRJNA809185, SAMN26149759, and SRS12076762 respectively.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation under Grant number [JCYJ20200109150629266]; the Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural and Sciences.