Strain specific differences in ribosomal DNA from the ectomycorrhizal fungi Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton and Laccaria laccata (Scop ex Fr) Br

Abstract

The restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns of the ribosomal RNA genes of 14 isolates belonging to various ectomycorrhizal fungus species including the related basidiomycetous ectomycorrhizal fungi Laccaria laccata (Scop ex Fr) Br and Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton have been determined. The isolates were obtained from various geographical sources in France, the United Kingdom and North America. Total DNA of vegetative mycelium was cleaved with a series of restriction enzymes, electrophoretically separated and probed with radiolabelled rDNA gene from Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff: Fr) SF Gray. Results indicate that isolates belonging to different species had different restriction enzyme sites in the rDNA. Although distinct patterns were observed within species, a core of common bands could be discerned within each species. Since various patterns were observed within L bicolor and L laccata, rRNA gene restriction patterns may have epidemiological as well as taxonomic interest