Hello P.R. Shashank:

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda  is not present in India, however it has been recently introduced in India and Africa.  This species is native to the tropical regions of the western hemisphere from the United States to Argentina. It normally overwinters successfully in the United States only in southern Florida and southern Texas. In the link you give the authors do not mention anything about the presence of Spodoptera frugiperda in India.  Perhaps the researchers from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from New Delhi, India obtained genomic DNA of Spodoptera frugiperda from other countries in order to sequence and assemble the genome of the fall armyworm. Also there is information of DNA sequences of Spodoptera frugiperda available in Gen Bank that any reseracher can use in order to make the draft genome assembly. Gene Bank supplies gene-specific connections in the nexus of map, sequence, expression, structure, function, citation, and homology data. Unique identifiers are assigned to genes with defining sequences, genes with known map positions, and genes inferred from phenotypic information. These gene identifiers are used throughout NCBI's databases and tracked through updates of annotation. Gene includes genomes represented by NCBI Reference Sequences (or RefSeqs) and is integrated for indexing and query and retrieval from NCBI's Entrez and E-Utilities systems.

Regards,

Luis Miguel Constantino

Thank you very much for clarification.

Hope you have got an answer for this question with the first reporting of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda from Karnataka, India recently (during July, 2018 from maize).

Yes sir.

NBAIR has been reported the presence of Spodoptera frugiperda in different regions of Karnataka, India.

FAW has been reported in India 2018 by various groups (UAHS Shivamogga and NBAIR).

The genome assembly has been reported by two groups before being reported from India based on Sf Cell line and another from out side india with an Indian author contributing to the assembly .

Unfortunately, it's just been reported in India.

Recently its being noticed in some parts of telangana attacking maize crop.

Fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda is also spreading rapidly in Africa in the last months. It is a polyphagous species and pest of several crops. In my photogallery you can see a picture of the adult and the larva.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/140413390@N06/27636775987/in/photolist-28k54m8-J7aGDH-283aKnX-J4ir4Y

https://www.flickr.com/photos/140413390@N06/27604334978/in/photolist-28k54m8-J7aGDH-283aKnX-J4ir4Y

wide spread outbreak reported in the Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh damaging 40-70% of the maize crop.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/new-pest-devastating-maize-crop-in-karnataka/articleshow/65313584.cms

https://www.afp.com/en/news/2265/crop-destroying-armyworm-caterpillar-detected-asia-doc-18863t1