TY  - JOUR
AV  - restricted
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10658-015-0599-6
IS  - 1
PB  - Springer Netherlands
TI  - TaqMan real-time PCR assay for the detection and quantification of Sclerospora graminicola, the causal agent of pearl millet downy mildew
A1  - Babu, B K
A1  - Sharma, R
SN  - 0929-1873
VL  - 142
N2  - Early detection and quantification of Sclerospora graminicola, causal agent of pearl millet downy mildew, from seed, plant and infested soil could help in initiating preventive measures to control the spread of the disease. Two sensitive assays, SgK PCR (conventional PCR) and SgTqK q-PCR (real-time PCR), were developed for the detection of S. graminicola. Both assays were targeted on the 28S region of the nuclear large subunit (nuLSU) of the rDNA cluster. In conventional PCR, the species-specific primers (SgK F/R) amplified a 436 bp product in S. graminicola. TaqMan real-time PCR specifically amplified an 86 bp fragment in diverse DNA samples of S. graminicola obtained from infected seed, root, leaves and infested soil. Both assays did not amplify or produce any fluorescent signal from DNA obtained from other test microbes or from healthy pearl millet leaves. The absolute quantity of target molecules (28S) in the DNA sample obtained from S. graminicola sporangia (6?×?108/ml) was estimated at 25 pg/?l and the copy number was calculated as 2.69?×?108 molecules/?l. The copy number of target molecules in a diploid nucleus (2n) of S. graminicola was estimated to be ~27 molecules/nucleus. This assay can be used as a rapid and efficient detection tool for the identification and diagnosis of S. graminicola, and will be helpful in ensuring safe exchange of S. graminicola-free pearl millet germplasm across borders.
SP  - 149
Y1  - 2015///
EP  - 158
ID  - icrisat8919
KW  - q-PCR
KW  -  Species-specific primers
KW  -  Downy mildew
KW  -  Obligate pathogen
KW  -  Sclerospora graminicola
JF  - European Journal of Plant Pathology
ER  -