Challenges in Molecular Identification of Endomycorrhizal Fungi from Rhizosphere of Cashew Plant

Abstract

Molecular identification of endomycorrhiza through DNA analysis is needed to complement identification based on morphological characters. This research aimed to study molecular DNA techniques to identify endomycorrhiza in the rhizosphere of cashew plants (Anacardium occidentale L.). DNA extraction was carried out using CTAB buffer from cashew roots, soil and spores and PCR was carried out with specific primers for mycorrhiza. The primers used were the primer pairs of SSU-Glom1 and NDL22 or LR4 + 2 and SSUmCf-LSUmBr. The results showed that DNA extracted from endomycorrhizal spores has the potential for molecular identification of endomycorrhiza, however it needs high amount of spores to obtain high quality and quantity DNA. DNA samples from cashew roots and cashew rhizosphere soil showed no PCR product and could not be used to identify endomycorrhiza molecularly. Optimization of PCR conditions and primer selection are needed to obtain better PCR products.