Identification of Wolbachia pipientis and phylogenetic studies of plodia interpuntella populations in different cities of Pakistan

Abstract

Wolbachiapipientis is genus of gram-negative bacteria which infect the members of phylum arthropoda, mainly affects the class insecta and some nematodes. Wolbachiapipientis are the common bacterial symbionts of the insects. About 25 to 70% of insect species are estimated to be the host of Wolbachiapipientis. Infection of these bacteria can alter the reproduction and biology of the host. Even some host species can not reproduce without Wolbachiapipientis infection. Due to thisreason, Wolbachiapipientis are used to control the population of pest species. A major reseach objective is the detection of Wolbachiapipientis in the Plodiainterpuntella populations of different cities of Pakistan leading towards its phylogenetic descriptions through molecular markers. Plodia interpuntella commonly called Indian meal moth. This insect is the major and most destructive pest of food grains such as, rice, maize and other cereals. The presence of this pest is relating with occurrence of such grains in homes and grocery stores. Indian meal moth feeding reduces the dry weight of stored grains. This study was done to estimates the economic and yield losses of food gains due to Plodia interpuntella in the different cities of Pakistain such as (Faisalabad, Jhang and Layyah) from Punjab, (Peshawar) from KPK and (Hyderabad) from Sindh. Firstly, the Collection of Plodiainterpunctella was completed from mention areas, and the pest was identified through morphologically, molecular analysis, eggs and larval instar. The results of our study showed that, the pest infection rate was ot similar in all the citites. Its majorly attack was identified in Faisalabd, Jhang, Layyah, Peshwar and Hyderabad gradually. During the study, pest infection rate was calculated in four months, July, August, September and October. The attack of pest was maximum in the start of July and minimum at the end of Octobor in stored grains. The results were calculated by using DNA extraction. The statistical analysis was performed through SPSS.