Genetic diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes from Italy based on the mitochondrial COI

Abstract: Entomopathogenic nematodes are important biological control agents against agricultural pests. The taxonomy of this group is still unclear as it currently relies on phylogenetic reconstructions based on a few genetic markers with little resolutive power, specially of closely related species. In our study we amplified and sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of Italian Heterorhabditis, Steinernema and Oscheius strains in order to determine the occurrence of COI haplotypes, the phylogeny and the phylogeography.