Molecular characterisation of Alternaria linicola and its detection in linseed

• Published in: European journal of plant pathology Vol. 105; no. 2; pp. 157 - 166
• Main Authors: McKay, G.J. (Queen's Univ. of Belfast (United Kingdom). Dept. of Applied Plant Science), Brown, A.E, Bjourson, A.J, Mercer, P.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.02.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: ALTERNARIA; Alternaria linicola; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; IDENTIFICACION; IDENTIFICATION; LINUM USITATISSIMUM; Microbiology; Mycology; NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE; PCR; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant tissues; SECUENCIA NUCLEOTIDICA; SEQUENCE NUCLEOTIDIQUE; Systematics; Systematics. Morphology. Development cycle. Physiology; Taxa; Plant pathogen; Taxonomy; Alternaria; Ribosomal DNA; Genotype; Spacer DNA; Method; Fiber crop; Fungi; Characterization; Polymerase chain reaction; Taxonomic review; Linum usitatissimum; Linaceae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Fungi Imperfecti; Detection; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0929-1873; 1573-8469
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1008774221919

Nucleotide sequences of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2 and a 1068bp section of the beta-tubulin gene divided seven designated species of Alternaria into five taxa. Stemphylium botryosum formed a sixth closely related taxon. Isolates of A. linicola possessed an identical ITS sequence to one group of A. solani isolates, and two clusters of A. linicola isolates, revealed from beta-tubulin gene data to show minor variation, were as genetically similar to isolates of A. solani as they were to each other. We suggest, therefore, that A. linicola falls within the species A. solani. Similar results suggest that A. lini falls within the species A. alternata. RAPD analysis of the total genomic DNA from the Alternaria spp. concurred with the nucleotide sequence analyses. An oligonucleotide primer (ALP) was selected from the rDNA ITS1 region of A. linicola/A. solani. PCR with primers ALP and ITS4 (from a conserved region of the rDNA) amplified a c. 536bp fragment from isolates of A. linicola and A. solani but not from other Alternaria spp. nor from other fungi which may be associated with linseed. These primers amplified an identical fragment, confirmed by Southern hybridization, from DNA released from infected linseed seed and leaf tissues. These primers have the potential to be used also for the detection of A. solani in host tissues.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]