Evaluation of microsatellite primers developed for grapevine downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola, on Australian isolates

Abstract

Grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) is a serious economic disease for Australian viticulture. Using different detection techniques 51 new and revised microsatellite primers have been developed for P. viticola based on American and European isolates. Thus far, only a subset of the developed microsatellites have been tested for polymorphisms among Australian P. viticola populations. This study tests all 51 microsatellites, under the same PCR conditions, for polymorphism on Australian isolates from geographically distinct regions. Of the 51 microsatellites, 18 showed polymorphism between the isolates tested and or P. viticola GenBank sequences. A selection of these microsatellites will be used for a larger population analysis study on Australian isolates.