RESTRICTION-FRAGMENT-LENGTH-POLYMORPHISM SPECIES-SPECIFIC PATTERNS INTHE IDENTIFICATION OF WHITE TRUFFLES

A molecular method for the identification of ectompcorrhizae belonging tc, five species of white truffle is described. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and universal primers were used to amplify internal tra nscribed spacers and 5.8S rDNA, target sequences present in a high num ber of copies. The amplified product:; were digested with restriction enzymes in order to detect interspecific polymorphisms. Species-specif ic restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns were determined f or all five species. The use of PCR in conjunction with restriction en zymes provides a sensitive and efficient tool for use in distinguishin g ectomycorrhizal species and monitoring inoculated seedlings or field mycorrhizal populations. (C) 1998 Federation of European Microbiologi cal Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.