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PCR primers to distinguish Armillaria species found in New Zealand

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Abstract

Armillaria species cause economic losses in both pine forests and kiwifruit orchards in New Zealand. In this study Armillaria species-specific PCR primers were developed to facilitate fast and accurate identification of the species found in New Zealand. The first step was to determine which species were present in New Zealand and therefore required distinguishing. Nationally collected Armillaria cultures and specimens had their ribosomal ITS genes sequenced to identify them to species. Sequence data results were consistent with just the four previously recognised species — Armillaria novaezelandiae, A. limonea, A. hinnulea and one as yet unnamed species — being present in New Zealand. Species-specific PCR primers for these four species were subsequently designed targeting the ITS gene region. Specificity of each of the four primer sets for their respective species was confirmed when they were further tested on DNA of the four Armillaria species and other fungi likely to be found in kiwifruit orchards or associated with forest trees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auckland Mail Centre, Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, 1142, Auckland, New Zealand

    S. L. Dodd

  2. Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, New Zealand

    T. D. Ramsfield

  3. Christchurch, Mail Centre, Plant and Food Research, Private Bag 4704, 8140, New Zealand

    J. W. Marshall

Authors
  1. S. L. Dodd
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  2. T. D. Ramsfield
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  3. J. W. Marshall
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Correspondence to S. L. Dodd.

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Dodd, S.L., Ramsfield, T.D. & Marshall, J.W. PCR primers to distinguish Armillaria species found in New Zealand. Australasian Plant Pathology 39, 536–543 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1071/AP10026

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/AP10026

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