Approaches for monitoring the release of Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata, a biocontrol agent of root-knot nematodes

Simon D. Atkins, Leopoldo Hidalgo-Diaz, Ian M. Clark, C. Oliver Morton, Nivian Montes de Oca, Paul A. Gray, Brian R. Kerry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata is a potential biocontrol agent against root-knot nematodes. Diagnosis of isolates has relied on morphological identification, and is both time-consuming and difficult. β-tubulin primers have been developed for the identification of this fungus that were specific enough to distinguish between varieties of the fungus within the same species. Separate primers have been developed for the specific detection of P. chlamydosporia var. catenulata based on ITS sequences, which were able to detect the fungus in soil from various sites in Cuba where the biocontrol agent had been added. When the PCR diagnosis was combined with serial dilution of soil samples on selective medium, colonies were rapidly identified. The fungus was still present, albeit at low densities, in soils inoculated five years previously. The development of a baiting method allowed quick in situ screening of the isolates' ability to infect nematode eggs, and when combined with PCR diagnosis both varieties of the fungus could be detected in infected eggs. RFLP analysis of ITS sequences from P. chlamydosporia provided an extra level of discrimination between isolates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-212
Number of pages7
JournalMycological Research
Volume107
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Keywords

  • biological pest control agents
  • nematodes

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