FIVE DIATOM SPECIES IDENTIFIED BY USING POTENTIALAPPLICATION OF NEXT GENERATION DNA SEQUENCING

Molecular barcoding was widely recognized as a powerful tool for the identification of organisms during the past decade;the aim of this study isto use the molecular approach to identify the diatoms by using the environmental DNA. The diatomspecimens were taken from Tigris River. Theenvironmental DNA(e DNA) extraction and analysis of sequences using the Next GenerationSequencing (NGS) method showed the highest percentage of epipelicdiatomgeneraincludingAchnanthidiumminutissimum(Kützing) Czarnecki, 1994 (21.1%), CocconeisplacentulaEhrenberg, 1838(21.3%) and Nitzschiapalea(Kützing) W. Smith, 1856 (16.3%). Five species of diatoms:Achnanthidiumminutissimum;Fistuliferasaprophila(Lange-Bertalot&Bonik)Lange-Bertalot, 1997;Gomphonemapumilum(Grunow) E. Reichardt&Lange-Bertalot, 1991;NaviculavenetaKützing, 1844andThalassiosirapseudonanaHasleHeimdal, 1970were registered in NCBIunder the accession numbers as follows:MN749640.1, MN749641.1, MN749642.1, MN749643.1 and MN749646.1for the first time;while the two algaeFistuliferasaprophilaandThalassiosirapseudonanaare regarded as a newrecord to algal flora in Iraq.The environmental DNA study willbe a catalyst fornew studies of biodiversity and environmental studies in Iraq and the region.