| In order to construct specific primers for the detection and identification of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium within infected sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis) larvae we analyzed the ITS1 -5.8S- ITS2 rDNA regions of strains and varieties of M. anisopliae, M. album and M. flavoviride. The PCR amplification of these regions yielded a unique fragment of approximately 540 bp for M. anisopliae variety anisopliae strains E9, B/Vi and C (isolated in Brazil), 600 pb for M. a. anisopliae strain 14 (isolated in Australia), 650 bp for the M. album and 600 bp for M. flavoviride strains. The PCR products were digested with different restriction endonucleases (Afa I, Alu I, Dde I, Hae III, Hpa II and Sau 3A) and the PCR-RFLP profiles showed clear... |
