Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Arensungla Pongen, GT Behere, Huirem Diana Devi, Rumki Heloise CH Sangma, M Alemla AO and Pankaj Neog

Abstract:
In today’s scenario of diversity crisis, the initiative of DNA barcoding has appeared to be a useful tool to achieve quick and accurate species identification of existing species and also aid in discovery of unknown species. In the present study 6 major insect species (insect pests & natural enemies) were collected and identified viz., Aphis spiraecola, Chrysodeixis eriosoma, Helicoverpa armigera, Glyptapanteles sp., Coccinella septempunctata and Coccinella transversalis. DNA barcodes were successfully developed by sequencing partial Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of mitochondrial DNA. The molecular identities of the insect species were established through BLAST NCBI. All the analyzed sequences have been deposited to International Gene Bank (NCBI) with accession numbers ON460288, ON460289, ON461368, ON461370, ON489304 and ON496461. The present study has resulted in the quick identification of A. craccivora, C. eriosoma and Glyptapanteles sp. in tomato ecosystem which has not been reported previously from Nagaland, India. The comprehensive molecular database developed in this study could be used as diagnostic guide at both morphological and molecular level.