INTRASPECIFIC VARIABILITY WITHIN SPECIES OF CLADOPHIALOPHORA AND CLADOSPORIUM USING ARBITRARY PRIMED PCR

The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was applied to establish the intraspecific variability of the neurotropic species Cl adophialophora bantiana, which until recently consisted of three separ ate taxa, viz. Cladosporium bantianum (Xylohypha emmonsii), Cladospori um trichoides and Cladosporium trichoides var. chlamydosporum. Among t he 62 primers assayed, only 6 generated readable patterns. A remarkabl e homogeneity of CI. bantiana was revealed. Cladophialophora arxii, ag ent of systemic non-neurotropic mycosis, was confirmed to be a separat e species. The saprophytic strains of the Cladosporium species proved to be heterogenic.