A modification DNA isolation method for morpho-molecular characterization: with some thrips species barcoding

Thysanoptera (thrips), sap-sucking insect pests, cause significant plant damage and facilitate the spread of plant-pathogenic viruses through their feeding behavior. Molecular techniques, an emerging field within entomology, offer a reliable means of identifying thrips species (Insecta, Thysanoptera). DNA barcoding, utilizing standardized gene regions such as the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), presents a rapid and objective method for the species identification of thrips and other insects. This method is precise, widely utilized in scientific research, and has gained immense popularity as an exciting approach for species diagnosis in recent years. The accurate identification of thrips is crucial for effective pest management, given their significant impact on agriculture. The objective was to develop a specific DNA isolation method for thrips species to enhance the accuracy of identification procedures. Advances in this methodology could significantly improve the classification and management of thrips within entomology. Another goal of this study was to employ DNA barcoding methods with concise primers for molecular identification. This encompassed the evaluation of one species from the Aeolothripidae ( Rhipidothrips gratiosus Uzel, 1895), three species from the Phlaeothripidae ( Haplothrips andresi Priesner, 1931; Haplothrips distinguendus (Uzel, 1895); Haplothrips reuteri (Karny 1907)), and eight species from the Thripidae family ( Neohydatothrips gracilicornis (Williams, 1916), Sitothrips arabicus Priesner, 1931, Anaphothrips obcurus (Müller, 1776), Kakothrips priesneri Pelikan, 1965, Pezothrips nigriventris (Pelikan, 1956), Stenothrips graminum Uzel, 1895). Specimens were collected from Yalvaç (Isparta) in western Turkiye and Selçuklu (Konya) in central Turkiye in 2020. The results of this study confirm the efficacy of employing concise primers in DNA barcoding, proving to be a highly effective and precise technique for diagnosing thrips species. Moreover, the DNA barcode system shows significant potential to enhance the accuracy of thrips species identification, especially when supported by an expanded repository of sequence information. Notably, the motified DNA isolation method substantially increases specificity in this context.