Molecular detection of Tilletia bromi on brome grasses
雀麦上雀麦腥黑粉菌Tilletia bromi的分子检测

Brome grasses are economically and ecologically important forage grasses, and have been frequently introduced into China these years. The smut fungi Tilletia spp. are important pathogens on these grasses and have greatly endangered grass production. There are four Tilletia species, i.e. T. controversa (TCK), T. bromi, T. bolayi and T. caries (TCT), infecting these grasses. It is difficult to separate them from each other based on the characteristics of their teliospores. In this study, the morphology, autofluorescence and germination behavior of teliospores were determined and four species, T. bromi, TCK, TCT and T. fusca with similar characteristics were selected for further analysis. Based on the nucleotide difference of a beta-tubulin tub2 gene, a molecular marker that is sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) was developed specifically for PCR detection of T. bromi by using the DNA samples from either the mycelia or the teliospores isolated from brome grasses. The method developed in this study can be quickly and reliably employed in quarantine analysis.