Efficiency of rep ‐PCR fingerprinting as a useful technique for molecular typing of plant pathogenic fungal species: Botryosphaeriaceae species as a case study

In this study, we used rep‐PCR technique as a molecular tool for typing and differentiation of the Botryosphaeriaceae species, well‐known and cosmopolitan fungal pathogens on woody plants. Three primer sets BOX, ERIC and REP were used to differentiate 27 species belong to eight genera. The majority of them were examined in terms of typing and differentiation using molecular methods for the first time. All the primer sets were able to generate species‐specific DNA fingerprints from all the tested strains, with two exceptions in the genera Diplodia and Spencermartinsia. Despite the deficiency of each primer sets to separate a few species, cluster analysis of combined data sets indicated the ability of rep‐PCR technique to separate 26 out of 27 examined species in highly supported clusters corresponded to the species recognized based on DNA sequence data. Our findings revealed the efficiency of rep‐PCR for detection and differentiation of the Botryosphaeriaceae species, especially cryptic species with the same ITS sequences and similar morphology. Our results indicate the efficiency of rep‐PCR fingerprinting and more realistic insight to the validity of rep‐PCR as a method for rapid and precise detection and differentiation of the Botryosphaeriaceae species.
Source: FEMS Microbiology Letters - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Research Letter Source Type: research