Variation in the Internal Transcribed Spacer Region of Phakopsora pachyrhizi and Implications for Molecular Diagnostic Assays

• DOI: 10.1094/pdis-08-18-1426-re
• Publication Date: 2019-03-29T21:24:26Z
• Authors: Tomás Allen Rush; Jacob Golan; Alistair McTaggart; Cade Kane; R. W. Schneider; M. Catherine Aime
• Keywords: Phakopsora pachyrhizi

Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of soybean rust (SBR), is a global threat to production. Since discovery SBR in continental United States, quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA locus were established for its rapid detection. However, insufficient data initially available test against factors that could give rise misidentification. This study aimed reevaluate current (i) potential false-positive detection caused by nontarget species and (ii) false-negative intraspecific variation within ITS P. pachyrhizi. A large amount intragenomic was detected, including presence polymorphic copies single leaf samples sori. The diagnostic not affected polymorphisms region; however, are at risk false positives when screened other Phakopsora. raises caveats use multicopy genes (e.g., ITS) single-gene discusses pitfalls inferences concerning aerobiological pathways disease spread made absence an evaluation heterogeneity.