MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYLLOCINISTIS CITRELLA (STAINTON) COLLECTED FROM SELECTED DISTRICTS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

Abstract

The study investigated the genetic diversity and population differentiation of P. citrella populations from Peshawar, Malakand, and Haripur using genomic DNA amplification with three distinct primers (OP-A01, OP-K02, and OP-A02). Consistent amplification patterns across these populations revealed a total of 30 distinct markers, ranging in size from 250 to 2500 base pairs, with each primer generating between 4 to 10 markers. The percentage of polymorphic markers, indicative of genetic diversity, varied among the primers, with OP-A01, OP-A02, and OP-K02 showing 70%, 75%, and 80% polymorphism, respectively, resulting in a mean polymorphism of 75%. The primers yielded five distinct phenotypes, with an average of 7 phenotypes per primer. Genetic distance calculations among the sampled populations revealed the lowest genetic distance between the Malakand and Haripur populations, and the highest between the Haripur and Peshawar populations. A dendrogram constructed using the UPGMA method revealed two distinct clades, grouping populations from Peshawar and Malakand together, and Haripur separately. Principal coordinate analysis reinforced these findings, illustrating significant genetic differentiation. Despite the substantial geographic distance, a relatively small genetic distance was observed between Peshawar and Malakand populations, indicating a weak correlation between geographic and genetic distances. This genetic analysis provides valuable insights into the genetic structure of P. citrella populations, informing future research and pest management strategies.

Keywords: Phyllocnistis citrella; Genomic DNA amplification; Molecular markers ; Genetic diversity; Polymorphism; Phenotypic analysis; Pest management strategies.