Isolation, Morphological, and Molecular Characterizations of Nematodes from Soil of South Baghdad

Abstract

A recent survey was conducted in Al-Madaen region, which is in south of Baghdad, a capital city of Iraq. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify nematodes from soil in this region. Nematode detection was performed on samples gathered from 4 locations across the region, including alfalfa fields, eggplant greenhouses, citrus groves, and fruit tree orchards. Two nematode isolates were found out of a total of thirty samples. Morphological descriptions were made of the samples, and a molecular approach based on the ITS gene was used to validate the identification. Soil samples from nearby alfalfa fields and citrus groves yielded the two isolates. Analysis of sequencing data was followed by a blast of DNA sequences against the GenBank database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Both isolates were tested, and Mad.1 was found to be Rhabditis, while Mad.2 was found to be Oscheius. Using the DNA sequences of 2 loci, we performed a molecular analysis and phylogenetic analysis of the relationship between the two genera. Both species of Rahbitis and Oscheius have been named; Rahabiditis blumi for the former and Oscheius macrovilli for the latter. The first records of these species in Baghdad. Pathogenicity assays and additional testing will build on the findings of this first study.