Muhammad Ashfaq Pakistan barcode project: progress and applications
Pakistan Agro-based economy but crops are plagued with pests and diseases
2010: Barcoding economically important insect species from Pakistan Biodiversity Institute of OntatioNational Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) Funded by: HEC
Project execution Involvement of universities/ research institutesMuseumsFaculty/ scientistsGraduate students
Manual catching Pipettes and sieves Arial nets Light traps Shaking onto sheets Activities and Progress Collecting animal parasites
Specimen preparation and databasing
Specimens Animals: Plants: 1289 Barcodes Animals: Plants: 988 IDRC (62%) 18 months
Pests Beneficials
Pakistan-only BINs/ species I.Animals: 4021 II.Plants: 363 Number of BINs/ species 2793 (70%)Singletons: 1530
I.Families: 199 II.Genera: 698 Taxonomic identifications Unidentified: III.Species: 764
Barcode Applications Insect pests II.Identification and distribution of:I.Barcode reference libraries Disease vectors
Reference libraries Pests:754 speciesBeneficials:241 species
Noctuid species in/around cotton fields of Punjab Previously only S. litura was reported from cotton in Punjab
Genetic diversity: mango mealybug, Drosicha mangiferae
Bemisia tabaci, a complex of cryptic species
(A) Asia II 1 (B) MEAM 1 (C) Asia 1 Bemisia tabaci, distribution analysis
Dengue epidemic in Punjab
Mosquito species in Punjab
Genus: Anopheles Genus: Culex Genus: Aedes Aedes aegypti Aedes albopictus Genus-wise distribution of mosquitoes in Punjab
Outreach Training and involvement of communitySymposiums and seminarsOne-to-one meetingsMedia coverage
Barcoding project at NIBGE Strengths A trained group of workersSpecimen processing facilityDepository for voucher specimens
Concerns No imminent financial support to continue barcoding activities after August 2013
Barcoding team members
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