Journal of Environmental Biology

DNA barcoding and genetic diversity studies of Water lily aphid, Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae from India

V.K. Padala¹, T. Sinha², S. Tyagi³, N. Ramya4 and S. Narayana²*     

¹Agricultural Entomology, ICAR-National Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga-846 005, India

²Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India

³Baba Raghavdas Post Graduate College, Deoria-274 001, India

⁴Agricultural Entomology, ICAR- Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi-834 010, India

Received: 27 May 2024                   Revised: 06 July 2024                   Accepted: 12 September 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : srinivasa@bhu.ac.in                           *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3917-3713

Abstract

Aim: In this study, DNA barcoding of Rhophalosiphum nymphaeae was conducted using a population collected from five different aquatic host plants, and the genetic diversity analysis was performed.

Methodology: Genomic DNA from R. nymphaeae adults was extracted and the COI gene was amplified using PCR. The PCR products were sequenced, analyzed for identification using NCBI and BOLD databases, and the sequences were submitted to NCBI GenBank. Further genetic analysis were conducted to study the genetic diversity of the pest.

Results: Two new aquatic weed hosts of water lily aphid was reported from India, i.e., Blue water lily, Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f., and Four leaf clover, Marsilea quardrifolia L. The genetic diversity analysis revealed the lesser diversity among the Indian and USA population of water lily aphid as compared to the populations from China, Canada and Lithuania.

Interpretation: The genetic diversity analysis indicated no genetic variation in the Indian population, however, a moderate level of variation was observed in the rest of the world population. This work will facilitate the quick identification of R. nymphaeae independent of sex and stage, furthermore helping in either pest management or its use as bio-control agent.

Key words: DNA barcoding, Marsilea quadrifolia, Nymphaea nouchali, Pest, Water lily aphid

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