Application of a putative fatty-acid binding protein to discriminate serologically the two European quarantine root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M-fallax, from other Meloidogyne species

Two major proteins, Mcf-A67 and Mcf-B66, were identified by mini two-dimens ional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in order to distinguish the two Eu ropean quarantine root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax, from eight other species. These 'quarantine proteinic markers' have been m icrosequenced after enzymatic digestion. The internal amino acid sequences exhibit similarities to members of a family of low molecular weight intrace llular lipid-binding proteins. Moreover, to explore a simple, rapid, and in expensive way to identify the two quarantine nematodes, dot blot hybridizat ions were performed using an antiserum (Sigma A67) produced from the longes t amino-acid sequence of the protein Mcf-A67. Although several proteins sta ined on the M. chitwoodi and M. fallax western blot membranes, the two nema todes were easily distinguished from other root-knot nematodes, on dot blot assays with soluble proteins extracted from a single female. Because of it s specificity and sensitivity, the use of the Sigma A67 antiserum to improv e the diagnosis of the two European quarantine root-knot nematodes is discu ssed.