Development of a specific DNA probe for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
A specific DNA probe for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) has been developed by using a satellite DNA isolated from the Japanese isolate (J10) of B. xylophilus. The authors have shown that this probe only reacts with B. xylophilus and not with B. mucronatus and B. fraudulentus, and that it can be used directly on a single nematode squashed onto a filter. Within the B. xylophilus species, it has been found that the satellite sequence was polymorphic, and hybridization patterns between the probe and B. xylophilus isolates are characteristic of each of the tested strains. In addition, it was found that American and Japanese isolates presented more affinity with the probe than the Canadian isolates. This result supports the previous assumption that American and Japanese strains are closely related and that a B. xylophilus isolate probably reached Japan from North America. The authors concluded that such a probe can provide a rapid and reliable detection of B. xylophilus and is a first step towards the detection of this nematode in wood samples.
Sources
TarŠs, S.; Lemontey, J.M.; de Guiran, G.; Abad, P. (1994) Use of species-specific satellite DNA from Bursaphelenchus xylophilus as a diagnostic probe.
Phytopathology, 84 (3), 294-298.