Development of a ribosomal DNA ITS2 marker for the identification of the thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis
1United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST), Mission Laboratory 22675 N. Moorefield Rd., Edinburg, TX 78541
2The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology, 501 ASI Bldg,
University Park, PA 16802
Abstract
The thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an invasive pest that poses a significant economical threat to U.S. agriculture and trade. In this study, DNA sequence data and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were utilized to develop a molecular diagnostic marker for S. dorsalis. The DNA sequence variation from the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was analyzed from various thrips species, including S. dorsalis. A primer set and polymerase chain reaction cycling parameters were designed for the amplification of a single marker fragment of S. dorsalis ITS2 rDNA. Specificity tests performed on ten thrips species, efficacy tests performed on fifteen S. dorsalis populations, and tests on primer sensitivity and robustness all demonstrated the diagnostic utility of this marker. This diagnostic PCR assay provides a quick, simple, and reliable molecular technique to be used in the identification of S. dorsalis.
Keywords: Chilli thrips, invasive pest, PCR primers, molecular diagnostics Abreviations: ITS2, Internal transcribed spacer 2
Correspondence: aRoxanne.e.farris@aphis.usda.gov
Associate Editor: Brad Coates was editor of this paper.
Received: 14 April 2008 | Accepted: 17 September 2008 | Published: 28 March 2010
Copyright: This is an open access paper. We use the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license that permits unrestricted use, provided that the paper is properly attributed.
ISSN: 1536-2442 | Volume 10, Number 26
Farris RE, Ruiz-Arce R, Ciomperlik M, Vasquez JD, Deleón R. 2010. Development of a ribosomal DNA ITS2 marker for the identification of the thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis. 15pp. Journal of Insect Science 10:26, available online: insectscience.org/10.26
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