IDENTIFICATION OF EUROPEAN ARMILLARIA SPECIES BY ANALYSIS OF ISOZYME PROFILES

Studies were carried out to test the possibility of identifying Europe an Armillaria species by using isozyme patterns. Twenty-two different enzymes were used to analyse the haploid and diploid mycelium extract of Armillaria borealis, Armillaria cepistipes, Armillaria gallica, Ami llaria mellea, Armillaria ostoyae and Armillaria tabescens. Tests for fumarase (E.C. 4.2.1.1.), aconitase (E.C. 4.2.1.3.), leucine-amino pep tidase (E.C. 3.4.11.1.), isocitrate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.42.), sh ikimic dehydro(E.C. 1.1.1.25), glucose-6-P-dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.4 9.), malic enzyme(E.C. 1.1.1.40.), 6-P-gluconic dehydrogenase gluconic dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.4.4.), pectin esterase (E.C. 3.1.1.11.), and pectic lyase (E.C. 4.2.99.3.) did not reveal enzyme activity. Isozyme profiles of acid phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.2.), phospho-glucoisomerase ( E.C. 5.3.1.9.), peroxidase (E.C. 1.11.1.7.), polyphenoloxidase (E.C. 1 .14.18.), malic dehydrogenase(E.C. 1.1.1.37.), glutamic dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.4.1.3.) and superoxide dismutase (E.C. 1.15.1.1.) were ineffec tive for species identification. In contrast, esterase (E.C. 3.1.1.1.) , glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (2.6.1.1.), phospho-gluco-mutase (E .C. 2.7.5.1.), alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1.), ana polygalactur onase (E.C. 3.2.1.15.) isoenzyme patterns showed enough polymorphism t o allow the and identification of the different Armillaria species. Ho wever, it is necessary to compare several enzyme profiles for a conclu sive identification. Intraspecific crosses of A. tabescens were confir med by the presence of a heteromeric isozyme pattern of alcohol dehydr ogenase and phospho-gluco-mutase.