Application of molecular approaches to fungal taxonomy and their usefulness

Abstract

RAPD markers and nuclear ITS-RELPs were characterized for taxonomically problematic Penicillium species and basidiomycetous mushrooms, respectively. With 14 randomly chosen 10-mer primer, phenetic analysis separated the 25 Penicillium species into three genetically distinct groups that correspond to the different arrangements of penicili (mono-, bi-, and terverticillate). Using the 12 restriction endonucleases, phenetic analysis separated the 12 basidiomycetous species into two genetically distinct grouos which correspond to orders (Aphyllophorales and Agaricales) where each species is incluede. The results of this study involving RAPD suggest that P. aurantiogriseum var. aurantiogriseum, P. verrucosum, and P. puberulum represent geneticaly distinct species, and tha P. vulpunum should be incluede in terverticillate Penicillia. According to restriction patterns of ITS, there is no clear genetic demarcation between the Ganoderma species in Ganodermataceae and species in Polyporaceae. This result indicated that Ganoderma species are in close genetic attinity with those in Polyporaceae. Present study involving RAPD and ITS-RFLPs indicates that RAPD could be a useful taxnomic tool for closely related species, whereas ITS-RFLPs could be used as an aids in classifying distantly related species.