DIAGNOSTIC OF WIREWORM THAT ATTAK POTATO TUBERS BY USING PCR .

Abstract

Field studies were carried out in the middle of Iraq during 2009 - 2012 todetect and identify the species of genus Agriotes spp that infest Potato tubers(Solanum tubersum L. ) by using Molecular diagnosis Polymerase ChainReaction (PCR) for both adults and larvae . The results showed that there arefive species of Agriotes infest Potato tubers in Spring and Autumn cultivation .These species are :Agriotes brevis (Candeze) , Agriotes lineatus(Linnaeus)Agriotes obscurus (Linnaeus) , Agriotes sputator(Linnaeus)Agriotes ustulatus (Schaller).A genetic diversity within the species of the genus Agriotes was found .