SPECIES IDENTIFICATION OF CECIDOPHYOPSIS MITES (ACARI, ERIOPHYIDAE) FROM DIFFERENT RIBES SPECIES AND COUNTRIES USING MOLECULAR-GENETICS

Cecidaphyopsis mites were studied by PCR amplification of parts of the ir ribosomal DNA, followed by restriction enzyme analysis. Mite specim ens on Ribes nigrum (black currant) from six countries gave the same d igestion pattern, which was distinct from the pattern for mites found on R. rubrum from Poland and Finland and far R. grossularia from the U SA. This suggests that each Ribes species is host to a different mite species: C. ribis, C. selachodon and C. grossulariae, respectively. Tw o other mite samples from R. alpinum and R. aureum were identical but were distinct from each of the other species.