A robust DNA amplification fingerprinting system applied to analysis of genetic variation within Fusarium oxysporum fsp cubense

Genetic variation among isolates of F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc) was analysed using a DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) system modified to improve reproducibility and transportability. This analysis was done after determining the widest tolerance range (or 'window of reproducibility') for each component in amplification reaction. Reproducible polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were achieved with between 25 and 250 ng of template DNA, 9-15 mu M primer, 4-6 mM MgCl2 and 2-4 units of Stoffel Fragment enzyme. For experimental work we used the middle value of these ranges which allowed at least 20% error tolerance for each component. Similarly, thermocycling and electrophoresis conditions were also improved. Manual scoring of the DNA fingerprints was compared to analysis of scanned gel images using the Gel Compar program (Applied Maths, Kortrijk, Belgium). The data were clustered by unweighted pair group method analysis (UPGMA) based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient. Isolates of Foe representing all known vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were examined and the genetic relationships between the VCGs were determined. Isolates of Foc were divided into two major groups with 30% genetic similarity. These optimized DNA amplification, thermocycling, and electrophoresis conditions were suitable for analysis of other organisms and should be applicable to other techniques that use arbitrary primers such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and arbitrarily primed-PCR (AP-PCR).