Rapid detection of Fusarium graminearum complex in wheat seeds using species-specific PCR primer designed based on a microsatellite region.

摘要

Fusarium head blight disease (FHB) in wheat, caused by Fusarium graminearum species complex (Fg complex), is a very serious disease threatening wheat production worldwide. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods have been established for rapid and quantitative detection of many plant pathogens. In this study, a specific pair of primers was designed based on the sequence of DNA fragment (740 bp) amplified by a microsatellite primer M13 from Fg complex isolates. This pair of primers was able to amplify a 380 bp fragment from all Fg complex isolates but not from any other tested fungal species. Using this pair of primers, a real-time PCR assay was developed to quantitatively detect small amounts of Fg complex in wheat seeds. This sensitive and quantitative detection assay could be useful in epidemiological studies and assessment of mycotoxin contamination in wheat seeds.