Microsatellite markers to monitor a commercialized isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in different environments: Technical validation and first applications

• Published in: Biological control Vol. 70; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Reineke, Annette, Bischoff-Schaefer, Monika, Rondot, Yvonne, Galidevara, Sandhya, Hirsch, Jacqueline, Uma Devi, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.03.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Beauveria bassiana; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Classical and quantitative genetics. Population genetics. Molecular genetics; Control; Entomopathogenic fungi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Galleria; Generalities. Genetics. Plant material; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Microsatellites; Molecular genetics; Monitoring; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Soil samples; Beauveria bassiana; Microsatellites; Entomopathogenic fungi; Soil samples; Monitoring; Validation; Entomopathogen; Microsatellite; Sample; Biological control; Environmental factor; Molecular marker; Fungi; Soils; Fungus; Surveillance; Microsatellite DNA; Fungi Imperfecti
• ISSN: 1049-9644; 1090-2112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2013.11.012

[Display omitted] •Three SSR markers confidentially discriminated between a world-wide collection of Beauveria bassiana isolates.•Detection thresholds differed depending on the environment of the PCR assay.•SSR markers detected a commercialized B. bassiana strain in different substrates up to 14weeks after inoculation. Here, we report on the application of five previously developed microsatellite markers (simple sequence repeats, SSRs) to monitor an isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. in different environments. Discriminatory power of these SSR markers was assessed in two commercialized B. bassiana isolates as well as in 16 B. bassiana isolates from a world-wide collection, and three of the five SSR markers were estimated to allow a confident discrimination among the given isolates. Sensitivity thresholds of 0.1pg DNA were subsequently determined for all SSR markers in case pure genomic fungal B. bassiana DNA was used as a template for PCR assays, but threshold levels varied depending on the environment (soil, plant) of the PCR assay. Furthermore, presence of a commercialized B. bassiana isolate was monitored via these SSR markers in three different types of potting substrates over a period of 14weeks. With two SSR markers, strain-specific products were detected up to 14weeks after application of B. bassiana to the substrate. Infectivity of B. bassiana conidia in the respective soil samples was confirmed by the Galleria baiting technique. Together these results indicate that molecular markers like SSRs specific for commercialized strains of entomopathogenic fungi are important tools to monitor a particular fungal strain in complex environmental samples such as bulk soil or plant DNA.