R. Geisen et al., Characterization of Penicillium roqueforti strains used as cheese starter cultures by RAPD typing, INT J F MIC, 65(3), 2001, pp. 183-191
Seventy-six strains of Penicillium roqueforti used as starter cultures for
mould ripened blue cheeses have been analysed for their RAPD genotype by us
ing three different primers. A comparison of the RAPD patterns within each
primer group revealed that the genetic constitution of the strains was simi
lar, as most of the strains showed very similar overall patterns. Despite t
hese similarities with each primer, distinct RAPD genotype groups could be
identified. With one of the primers, it was possible to detect two heteropo
lymorphic DNA regions resulting in 13 different groups. With the other two
primers, three or four groups could be identified. Between the groups of th
e different primers marked correspondence with respect to strain distributi
on could be observed, indicating that the polymorphisms detected by the pri
mers were not independent. The RAPD patterns were compared to the productio
n of secondary metabolites. A correlation was observed between the RAPD pat
terns of all primers and the production of mycophenolic acid. In addition,
one of the primer (ari 1) was able to distinguish between P. roqueforti str
ains producing larger or smaller numbers of metabolites. (C) 2001 Elsevier
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