Molecular characterisation of Heterorhabditis indica isolates from India, Kenya, Indonesia and Cuba

Isolates of Heterorhabditis were identified as H. indica using the followin g molecular diagnostic features: hybridisation to a H. indica specific sate llite DNA probe; AluI and MboI restriction profiles of the rDNA ITS PCR pro duct and the AluI profile of the rDNA IGS PCR product. The Kenyan isolates represent a distinct subgroup of H. indica. These isolates lacked one of th e two HinfI restriction sites which are present in the rDNA ITS product of all the other isolates tested and they also differed from other H. indica i solates in their rDNA IGS HaeIII restriction profile. The Indian isolates a re interfertile. The Kenyan isolates are interfertile but only one Kenyan i solate, Ki3, produced viable progeny when crossed with H. indica LN2. The f our Indonesian isolates are interfertile, but only one Indonesian isolate ( INA H1) produced viable hybrids when crossed with N. indica LN2. INA H1 was also interfertile with the Kenyan isolate Ki3.