Phylogenetic relationship of Pakistani entomopathogenic nematode strains on the basis of ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2, D2-D3/28S (LSU) rDNA region and 12S rDNA mitochondrial gene

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belong to families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae have proved as extremely useful biological control agents and infected a wide range of insect pests. Phylogenetic relationships among Pakistani entomopathogenic nematode strains; steinernematids and heterorhabditid were estimated by nucleotide sequences using three molecular makers viz; ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 rDNA (seventy nine); D2-D3 and 28S (LSU) sequences of rDNA region (fifteen) and 12S rDNA mitochondrial gene (twenty nine) to investigate the genetic diversity. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using two different methods maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI) in which most of them form highly to moderately supported clades.