Identification of Muscidifurax spp. by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFL P) analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS-1 region was used to differentiate Muscidifurax (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) species which are parasitoids of filth fly pupae. Three restriction enzymes, Dpn II, Mse I, and Tag I, produ ced restriction patterns which were diagnostic for the four species analyze d, M. raptor, M. raptorellus, M. uniraptor, and M. zaraptor. Seven other re striction enzymes were able to differentiate one or more of the species and can be used alone, or in combination with other enzymes, to verify identif ications. No intraspecific variation was observed among the populations exa mined. The utility of the PCR-RFLP technique compared with other molecular and biochemical diagnostic procedures is discussed. (C) 1999 Academic Press .