Molecular characterisation of a new isolate Steienrnema akhursti Qiu et al. 2005 (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) from KPK, Pakistan

A known species Steienrnema akhursti Qiu et al. Citation2005 was isolated from bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.) Pashat and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Khazan Baig, Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Fifty soil samples were collected, out of which 10 samples contained entomopathogenic nematodes. Out of 10, 2 samples were identified as S. akhursti on morphological, morphometric and molecular bases. S. akhursti was characterised on a molecular basis. The phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D2–D3 regions confirms that these two isolates are similar to S. akhursti Qiu et al. Citation2005. The accession number on sequences of the ITS OQ624892 and OQ625863 (TB28-1 and SU30-1), whereas on partial 28S regions (D2–D3) basis OQ627432 and OQ711807 (TB28-2, SU30-2).