Abstract
Fruit flies of the family Tephritidae are among the most economically significant pests of horticultural crops worldwide, causing substantial losses in fruit production and trade. Accurate identification of species is crucial for effective pest management, quarantine, and biosecurity programs. In this study, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) sequences were used to identify 15 fruit fly species from three genera (Bactrocera, Ceratitis, and Dacus). Complete DNA and amino acid sequences were determined, and phylogenetic relationships were assessed using sequences from both African and Asian populations. The CO1 marker proved effective for precise species identification and phylogenetic analysis, providing a valuable tool for both quarantine inspections and population genetics studies. This study provides the first molecular characterization of economically important fruit flies species from Sudan including some of Bactrocera species using mitochondrial COI gene sequencing. Previous work in the region focused mainly on morphological identification, which can be unreliable due to overlapping features among closely related species. The inclusion of molecular tools in this research enhances diagnostic precision, supports early detection of invasive fruit flies, and strengthens the foundation for integrated pest management (IPM) programs in tropical Africa. The generated COI sequence data will serve as a reference for future phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses of tephritid flies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammed E.E. Mahmoud, Nur A.B. Adam, Sumaia M.A. Abukashwa, Mohamed A.O. Kambal, Alia A. Rizki, Samira A. Mohamed, Sunday Ekesi