title: A rapid single-step multiplex method for discriminating between Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) species in Australia.
abstract: Inaccurate species identification confounds insect ecological studies. Examining aspects of Trichogramma ecology pertinent to the novel insect resistance management strategy for future transgenic cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., production in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) of Western Australia required accurate differentiation between morphologically similar Trichogramma species. Established molecular diagnostic methods for Trichogramma identification use species-specific sequence difference in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-2 chromosomal region; yet, difficulties arise discerning polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments of similar base pair length by gel electrophoresis. This necessitates the restriction enzyme digestion of PCR-amplified ITS-2 fragments to readily differentiate Trichogramma australicum Girault and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley. To overcome the time and expense associated with a two-step diagnostic procedure, we developed a "one-step" multiplex PCR technique using species-specific primers designed to the ITS-2 region. This approach allowed for a high-throughput analysis of samples as part of ongoing ecological studies examining Trichogramma biological control potential in the ORIA where these two species occur in sympatry.
authors.affiliation: The School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia. andrewp.davies@nt.gov.au
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers