DEVELOPMENT OF DNA BARCODE AND SPECIES-SPECIFIC MARKERS FOR HELOPELTIS ANTONII SIGNORET AND PACHYPELTIS MAESARUM (KIRKALDY) (HETEROPTERA: MIRIDAE), PESTS OF CASHEW IN INDIA

Some species of minds are major pests of cashew damaging tender shoots, inflorescence, immature nuts, and apples at various stages of development. In India, crop loss is often more than 40% in cashew alone, and the genus Helopeltis closely resembles the genus Pachypeltis. Using molecular biology tools, morphological identification is further strengthened by DNA barcoding (using COX-1) and development of species-specific markers, which helps a non-specialist to identify a species. The molecular identification of Helopeltis and Pachypeltis spp. has been corroborated with morphological identification. The investigation results help in quick, accurate, and timely identification of Helopeltis antonii and Pachypeltis maesarum, a critical factor in understanding the epidemiology of the crop losses in cashew, their management and also in quarantine.