Detection of local isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae using specific primers

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is a promising biological control agent of several insect pests in agriculture. Molecular approaches (PCR and DNA sequence analysis) were used as tools for the identification of different local isolates (Ma88, Ma19 and Ma29) and imported isolate (Ma-h). Primer sequences used were5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3(ITS4) and 5'-GGAAGTAAAAGTCGTAACAAGG-3 '(ITS5). The DNA sequences of the amplified regions showed that the high homology (90%) was between the isolates Ma88 and Ma29,while it was 88% between Ma88 and Ma19 isolates and 89% between the Ma19 and Ma29 isolates. there were more heterogeneous between the three local isolates (Ma88, Ma19 and Ma29) and the imported isolate (Ma-h). The homogeneity among local isolates and their heterogeneity with imported isolate is due to many reasons, including geographical isolation and differences in environmental conditions such as high or low temperature and humidity.