Identification of aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidinae) using a rapid polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method based on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene

Abstract

Abstract The identification of immature aphids is often difficult or impossible. This can be a problem when there is a need for a rapid and accurate diagnosis of any aphid life stage, such as for quarantine inspections and horticultural surveys. A polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique is described on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to develop a molecular identification key for immature aphids from Victoria, Australia. The restriction enzymes HpyCH4 IV, DraI, HinfI, TaqI and SspI characterised 26 haplotypes that corresponded to 25 aphid species commonly found in southern Australian aphid surveys, including the currant‐lettuce aphid Nasonovia ribis‐nigri (Mosley) that has recently invaded Australia, presumably from New Zealand. Overseas specimens of Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach) and N. ribis‐nigri showed no significant sequence difference when compared with their Australian counterparts. The COI gene provides a useful marker for diagnostic aphid surveys.