Rapid silica matrix binding-based isolation of DNA from various wood-rotting and mycorrhizal basidiomycete fungi suitable for their detection by multiplex PCR

Newer polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques for rapid detection and quantification of fungal pathogens, which were developed in recent year s, are briefly summarized. The QIAamp DNA Mini Kit protocol featuring SDS/a lkali/Proteinase K/guanidine isothiocyanate-lysis and adsorption of the DNA onto a silica matrix proved to be a very simple, fast and reproducible met hod to extract and purify DNA both from various basidiomycete fungi and inf ected plane material. The DNA is of high quality and can be used directly f or different PCR assays even in low technology laboratories. Applying diver se taxon-specific primers concomitantly in the same PCR assay (multiplex PC R) a simultaneous detection of the two important forest pathogens Armillari a ostoyae and Heterobasidion annosum was possible. The finding of H, annosu m hybrid 'SP' genets both in Pirea sp, and Pinus sp. is an indication of ge ne flow in nature between the two ISGs and of no strong correlation between host species and ISG (host specifity) in Europe.