TY - JOUR T1 - Development of a real-time PCR assay for detection of Phytophthora kernoviae and comparison of this method with a conventional culturing technique JF - European Journal of Plant Pathology Y1 - 2011 A1 - Hughes, KelvinJ.D. A1 - Tomlinson, JennyA. A1 - Giltrap, PatriciaM. A1 - Barton, Victoria A1 - Hobden, Ellie A1 - Boonham, Neil A1 - Lane, CharlesR. KW - Diagnostic sensitivity KW - Diagnostic specificity KW - plant health KW - Rhododendron AB -

Phytophthora kernoviae is a recently described pathogen causing leaf blight, aerial dieback and bleeding cankers on trees and shrubs in parts of Great Britain and Ireland and recently reported in New Zealand. This paper describes the development of a TaqMan real-time PCR assay based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence to aid diagnosis of this pathogen in culture and in plant material. The assay showed no cross reaction with 29 other Phytophthora species, including the closely related species P. boehmeriae, and detected at least 1.2 pg of P. kernoviae DNA per reaction. A rapid and simple method can be used to extract DNA prior to testing by real-time PCR, and a plant internal control assay can be used to aid interpretation of negative results. A comparison of real-time PCR and plating for 526 plant samples collected in the UK indicated that this assay is suitable for use in routine screening for P. kernoviae.

PB - Springer Netherlands VL - 131 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10658-011-9843-x ER -