Detection of fusarium species infecting corn using the polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of primers in polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of a Fusarium proliferatum, F. verticillioides and F subglutinans . Specific primers are identified as being useful for the identification of fungal isolates using PCR based techniques.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A method for the detection of a fungal pathogen, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with a pathogen;    (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using a pair of primers wherein each primer has sequence identity with at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of a mitochondrial small subunit rDNA gene from from  Fusarium subglutinans  and wherein at least one primer comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS:13, 15 or 16; and    (c) detecting said fungal pathogen by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.    
     
     
         8 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the primers comprise: 
 SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16.    
     
     
         14 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A diagnostic kit used in detecting  Fusarium subglutinans  comprising at least one primer having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13, 15 or 16.  
     
     
         18 . A diagnostic kit used in detecting  Fusarium proliferatum  a fungal comprising a pair of primers of: 
 SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16.