Özet:

Thrips cause significant yield reduction in several industrial crops. Since these pests are also included in the quarantine organisms of Turkey, the rapid detection of agents is important to prevent their spread to new areas. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcoding gene assay; one of the molecular methods is widely used in thrips identification. However, as the COI gene has a very short fragment length, it is very difficult to distinguish fragment sizes on agarose gel after PCR. In this study, a new identification method was developed by integrating the Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) system for Thrips tabaci Lideman, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) species, using primer pairs previously used by different researchers. The assay produces strong signals obtained by minimizing the margin of error in the separation of fragment lengths close to each other, especially in the short fragment length COI gene. Therefore, by eliminating the gel electrophoresis step, reliable detections could be obtained without exposure to hazardous chemicals. The novel method shortened the detection time and minimized the process mistakes on the detection of a single thrips with a low DNA concentration. Total 83 thrips individual (52 F. intonsa, 31 F. occidentalis) were able to be detected with this capillary gel electrophoresis based fragment analysis. The novel method is evaluated as unique, specific and quick for the detection of three different thrips species. It is also thought to be able to utilize for identification of different thrips species with short fragment sizes in the foreseeable future.