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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #81453
Title: PCR-BASED DETECTION OF PHIALOPHORA GREGATA AND PLECTOSPORIUM SP. IN FIELD-GROWN SOYBEAN PLANTS

Author
item CHEN, WEIDONG - ILLINOIS NAT. HIST. SURV.
item Gray, Lynn
item KURLE, JAMES - UNIV. OF WISCONSIN

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The close ecological association of Phialophora gregata, the causal agent of soybean brown stem rot (BSR), with Plectosporium sp. has caused confusion and has raised questions about the potential causes of "brown stem rot" as a symptom and a specific disease. PCR primers based on the ITS sequences of the rDNA were designed specifically for the two fungi. These primers were shown to be specific in amplifying the DNA fragment only from the targeted fungus, making them applicable to ecological samples. DNAs from field-grown soybean stems were used in PCR with the specific primers. The presence of the two fungi can be detected using this PCR-based detection technique. In addition to its applications in studying the interactions of these two fungi in soybean plants, this technique was used to detect P. gregata and the Plectosporium sp. in soybean plants from areas where BSR was not previously reported.