Molecular genetic identification of two bracon species based on RAPD-PCR and 16S rRNA genes

Abstract

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR genomic fingerprinting and partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were evaluated on two insects collected from the Egyptian field which could belong to B. hebetor and B. brevicornis to investigate their genetic relatedness and to establish the value of techniques for their identification. Nearly identical RAPD-PCR profiles and identical 467 bp fragments of the 16S rRNA genes indicated many of genetic diversity between the two insects under study. The low levels of similarity (78.21% in the partial 16S rRNA genes and 86% in RAPD-PCR) appeared between the insects B. hebetor egypt and B. brevicornis egypt. However, 16S rRNA genes and RAPD-PCR provided an effective means of differentiating between members of the taxa. Moreover, a phylogenetic tree constructed from 16S rDNA sequences showed that B. hebetor egypt clustered with the B. hebetor with a degree of similarity 92%, but B. brevicornis Egypt clustered in a separated group. However, RAPD-PCR and partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA analysis raises questions about the taxonomic positioning of the two insects isolated from the Egyptian environment.