Suitability of different primers for specific molecular detection of Monilinia spp.

Monilinia spp. are economically important pathogens of pome and stone fruits. Four Monilinia species are present in Serbia - Monilinia fructigena, M. laxa, M. fructicola and Monilia polystroma. As detection and identification of Monilinia species are complex, the aim of this research was to evaluate species-specific primers in PCR in order to standardize fast and reliable molecular methods for differentiation between the four Monilinia species. Isolates of M. fructigena, M. laxa, M. fructicola and M. polystroma from apple fruit and referent isolates from Italy and Japan were used for testing. Specific molecular detection of M. laxa was obtained using ITS1Mlx/ITS4Mlx and Ml-Mfg-F2/Ml-Mfc-R1 primer pairs, and M. fructicola using ITS1Mfcl/ITS4Mfcl and Mfc-F1/Mfc-R1 primer pairs. ITS1Mfgn/ITS4Mfgn and ITS1/Mfg-R2 primer pairs, described as M. fructigena species-specific, amplified M. fructigena and M. polystroma, as well. Specific detection of these two species as well as of all four tested Monilinia species was obtained using the reverse primer MO368-5 with forward primers MO368-8R, Laxa-R2 and MO368-10R in separate or in Multiplex PCR reactions. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 46008]