STRAIN TYPING OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAL BASIDIOMYCETES FROM SUB-ALPINE TYROLEAN FOREST AREAS BY RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA ANALYSIS

The application of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis fo r the identifcation of ectomycorrhizal symbionts of spruce (Picea abie s) belonging to the genera Boletus, Amanita and Lactarius at and below the species level was investigated. Using both fingerprinting [M13, ( GTG)(5), (GACA)(4)] as well as random oligonucleotide primers (V1 and V5), a high degree of variability of amplified DNA fragments (band-sha ring index 65-80%) was detected between different strains of the same species, hence enabling the identification of individual strains withi n the same species. The band-sharing index between different species o f the same genus (Boletus, Russula and Amanita) was in the range of 20 -30%, and similar values were obtained when strains from different tax a were compared. Thus RAPD is too sensitive at this level of relations hip and cannot be used to align an unknown symbiont to a given taxon. We therefore conclude that RAPD is a promising tool for the identifica tion of individual strains, and could thus be used to distinguish indi genous and introduced mycorrhizal strains from the same species in nat ural ecosystems.