M-PCR: a powerful method for rapid molecular identification ofTrichogrammawasps (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).

Two species-specific primers were designed depending on ITS2 sequence variation of37 Trichogrammawasps, and these primers were applied to establish an assay, multiplex PCR (M-PCR), for molecular diagnosis of two importantTrichogrammawasps,T. confusumandT. dendrolimi, in China. Multiplex-PCR results showed that only target species produced two PCR products, one product of ITS2 region species-specific amplification and one product of its ITS1 region universal amplification, but other species produced only one ITS1 universal PCR product. Using this method, the targetTrichogrammaspecies can be distinguished from otherTrichogrammaspecies. Molecular identification based on M-PCR has particular value over morphological technology and other approaches, such as normal molecular and biochemical methods. Furthermore, because M-PCR assay can avoid false negative results, which frequently happen in PCR reaction, this method will be much more accurate and useful forTrichogrammaidentification, and can be developed as an easy and rapid diagnostic kit applied in the identification and quality monitoring ofTrichogrammamass products both in the factory and in the field. Such an easy and rapid diagnostic kit will be valuable in the application ofTrichogrammaspecies as a biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]