Molecular Detection of Three Coleopteran Species Found in Stored Rice From Some Provinces in Iraq

Insect pest infestations on stored rice cause both quantitatively and qualitatively significant damage and this affects the economy and food security of the country . The samples were collected from different geographic regions which represented by some of the provinces in Iraq; ( Mosul, Baghdad, Saladin, Diyala and Dhi Qar). The current study showed three main beetles that infect stored rice: Oryzaephilus Surinamensis, Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae. showed the highest abundance of Oryzaephilus Surinamensis in all stores that investigated , while S. oryzae was the less abundant. The genetic relationships among the local species were studied using molecular techniques. The study was performed using a phylogenetic tree, with the diagnosis confirmed using sequencing of mtDNA COI and 16s rRNA genes. The results showed differences in the nitrogenous base sequences of both genes when comparing the local sample with the reference sequences that published in NCBI as well, there was genetic diversity of species within and between in different provinces appeared in the form ofsubstitution mutations. The tree of genetic relationships between local species was drawn and the results were compared with the standard samples.