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4.08-Murdoch-Khapra-Beetle.Pdf BULLETIN 4.08 Sustainable Harvests 2017 RESEARCH FINDINGS in the School of VETERINARY & LIFE Dr Manjree Agarwal working on SCIENCES hyperspectral camera. MANJREE AGARWAL1, PENGHAO WANG1, WEI XU1, THAMER AL-SHUWAILI1, YONGLIN REN1, ANDY SZITO2, NADINE GUTHRIE2, SAM HAIR2, KIRA FARMER2, ROB EMERY2 & OONAGH BYRNE2 (KB PROJECT MANAGER) What’s that beetle? Diagnostic tools for exotic khapra beetle hapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) significantly minimise potential impacts of Methods and results Kis one of the major quarantine pest a khapra beetle incursion in WA. We are developing two major diagnostic of Australia. The economic consequences This collaborative project between Murdoch tools to distinguish native Trogoderma of an incursion of this species would be University and Department of Primary species from khapra beetle collected from very serious as the pest is difficult to Industries and Regional Development different geographical regions of the world: control by existing methods, threatening (DPIRD) aims to develop a new diagnostic an estimated $1.83 billion in Australian 1. Visible and near-infrared hyperspectral system for khapra beetle using a (VNIH) imaging annual export revenue. Australia would combination of traditional morphology, VNIH imaging is a rapid non-destructive also lose our premium (Khapra-free) molecular biology, and visible near-infrared and reagent-less means of monitoring market reputation, which is valued at hyperspectral (VNIH) imaging methods physical and morphological characteristics $4.9 billion. The risk of incursion and to address biosecurity surveillance and simultaneously. Hyperspectral imaging establishment of this species is increasing identification gaps for khapra beetle. systems can record images at hundreds of significantly as Australia continues to Through the project, we have developed contiguous wavelengths (narrow spectral grow imports of grain, grain products an inventory of unique DNA sequences and resolution) in the form of a hypercube and animal products. VNIH spectra for khapra beetle, warehouse (three-dimensional hyperspectral data). beetle, and other native Trogoderma species Accurate and reliable identification The technique involves identifying critical that could potentially be mistaken for becomes very difficult as Khapra beetles wavelength signatures for each species khapra beetle. morphologically resemble other native in the 400–1000 nm range. Because Trogoderma species. Therefore, development of the biological variations among test of appropriate preparedness tools will Rice infested with khapra beetle. insects, each sample reflects and absorbs electromagnetic energy at a specific spectral band. The intensity value of each pixel of the picture corresponds to its spectral value at a specific spectral band. The intensity level of the picture is then used to characterise chemical and physical variations in the insect. After the characteristic wavelengths have been identified, the images corresponding to the optimal wavelength for each insect sample are selected for feature extraction. This technique has potential as a diagnostic tool to identify khapra beetle, including different geographical strains. A series of bulletins outlining key research in the School of Veterinary & Life Sciences | 2017 ABOVE: Grain silos, Western Australia. resistance management, targeting control action. This will help ‘future-proof’ in the event of a khapra beetle infestation, ensuring Australia meets its international plant protection obligations when responding to pest incursions. n More information Contact: Manjree Agarwal E: [email protected] 2. Molecular evaluation TOP: Grain sampling. ABOVE: Unloading of grain. Acknowledgements Conventional PCR, real-time PCR, and This is funded by Boosting Biosecurity DNA sequencing methods were used to draw on for molecular and morphological Defences project, supported by Royalties distinguish between different species. comparisons, and the collation of unique for Regions and the Department of Primary DNA is extracted from morphologically DNA profiles. This part was done by the Industries and Regional Development. verified khapra beetle populations, to project team based at DPIRD. We are thankful to all the project team be compared with native Australian members from DPIRD and UWA. Trogoderma species, warehouse beetle, and Conclusions and recommendations other related pest Dermestids. In addition, This research will help protect growers Authors samples from a national Trogoderma and bulk handlers from khapra beetle 1 Murdoch trapping program, recent surveys across by establishing foundation work for 2 the WA wheat belt, and Gnangara and developing effective high throughput DPIRD khapra beetle material from different diagnostic techniques for khapra beetle, geographical regions of the world, provide enabling early detection of exotic species. a comprehensive library of material to These tools will help improve insect If you are interested in our research and would like to know more, then please contact us on [email protected] Our research bulletins can be downloaded from www.murdoch.edu.au/School-of-Veterinary-and-Life-Sciences/Our-research/Our-Bulletins/ Undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, please see www.murdoch.edu.au/School-of-Veterinary-and-Life-Sciences/Our-courses/ CRICOS Code: 00125J A series of bulletins outlining key research in the School of Veterinary & Life Sciences | 2017.
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