Exploration of ITS region as DNA barcode for Kakothrips priesneri Pelikan phylogeny

Abstract

The Thripidae family is a diverse group of insects with global distribution and significant economic importance as pests of agricultural crops. Accurate identification and classification of Thripidae species are critical for their effective management and control. To aid in this effort, DNA barcoding using the ITS gene region has proven to be an efficient and reliable tool for identifying and differentiating Thripidae species. The high variability rate of the ITS region makes it particularly effective for identifying and classifying closely related species, providing valuable insight for understanding and preserving the taxonomic diversity of the Thripidae family. The present study aims to explore the effectiveness of the ITS gene region for DNA barcoding of Kakothrips priesneri Pelikan species. For the first time, the ITS data obtained from this study showed the placement of Kakothrips priesneri in both common methods, using DNA barcoding (BLAST and MEGA), produced positive results for the ITS analysis, indicating that the region may be suitable for the Kakothrips species.