Molecular study of some true bugs (Heteroptera) found in Rafsanjan pistachio orchards and its suburbs using COI gene sequence (an effort toward DNA barcode)

Pistachio is a strategic crop of Iran. Among key pests found throughout the country causing losses to theannual yield, are some groups of true bugs. A first step in the management of these pests, including biocontrolvia conservation of natural enemies, is the identification of the heteropterans.Here we addressed the potential of molecular data including COI gene sequence for species delimitation ofpistachio true bugs. Thus from March 2009 up to November 2010 a comprehensive program of collecting truebugs in the orchards of Rafsanjan and its suburbs resulted in 46 species. The final confirmation of themorphological identification of the specimens was done by Dr. Linnavuri in Finland. To study the geneticstructure of the populations and determination of DNA barcode, COI gene was amplified and sequencedbased on recommended protocols. The sequences of COI gene were determined for the following species:Agraphopus lethierry (Rhopalidae), Campylomma unicolor (Miridae) , Dieuches schmitzi (Lygaeidae) andLamprodema maurum (Lygaeidae). The sequences were compared in the BOLD system and the Nblastsystem. The results obtained from NJ method and the interpretation of the inter-intra specific distances andnucleotide similarities and differences showed the COI sequences in the studied specimens can facilitate theseparation of the species as DNA barcode. Based on the relationships between these members, 4 tribes wereclearly distinguished from each other as well as two suborders, Cimicomorpha and Pentatomomorpha. This isthe first effort to determine the DNA barcode for the true bugs in Iran‟s pistachio orchards

کلیدواژه ها:

Pistachio ، COI gene ، DNA barcode ، BOLD system