Publication Type:
Journal ArticleSource:
Forest Pathology, Volume 31, Number 5, p.275 - 283 (2001)Keywords:
PHYTOPHTHORA diseases, PLANT diseases, polymerase chain reactionAbstract:
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based protocol for detection of Phytophthora lateralis in plant tissues and water is described. Base-pair (bp) deletions in both of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions in P. lateralis were used to design complementary PCR primer sequences that amplify a 738 bp fragment only if P. lateralis DNA is present in the sample. Universal control primers based on conserved sequences of the nuclear ribosomal small subunit are included in a multiplexed reaction, providing an internal check on the procedure. The universal primers amplify an approximately 550 bp fragment that is common to plants, protists, and true fungi. The procedure reliably detects P. lateralis in cedar stem tissues and in roots. Positive reactions were obtained with as few as 200 P. lateralis zoospores in water. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]