A molecular approach toward characterization of Iranian Trichogramma from selected regions and their Wolbachia endosymbiont

Trichogrammatids wasp (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are among important parasitoids inbiological control. A critical step toward using these minute wasps in biocontrol program are their correctidentification and understanding their reproduction type. Application of molecular methods in biocontrolstudies is a new trend globally. So, in this study we addressed the molecular characterization ofTrichogramma and their Wolbachia endosymbiont to occur in the selected regions of Iran. 14 populations ofTrichogramma collected from Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Golestan, Mazandara, Guilan and Qom provinces.The idendity of those populations were determined and their isofemale lines used for future analysis. Basedon the ITS-2 rDNA sequences in the 14 trichogrammatid species, three groups could be distinguished: GroupI included T. embryophagum a single species from Khorasan region. The second group included ninepopulations of T. brassicae as dominant species. The third group included four populations of T. evanescens.The results of current work confirmed that DNA sequences of the ITS2 gene are very useful for diagnosis ofTrichogramma species. By increasing the specimens and sampling area, we could attempt about developmentof a key based on ITS2 for rapid identification of Iranian Trichogrammatids. Wolbachia characterizationusing wsp gene showed occurrence of this endosymbiont in six out of 14 populations. Among this, threeWolbachia strains clustered with sib subgroup from supergroup of A and other strains as members ofsupergroup B. Superinfection by both A and B supergroups was another phenomenon which observed here.The data gathered here could useful in lowering biocontrol costs by releases of suitable individuals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Trichogramma ، endosymbiont ، ITS2 ، WSP ، Characterization