Development of conventional and real-time PCR protocols for specific and sensitive detection of Colletotrichum capsici in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Madhavan Srinivasan, Satya Vijayalakshmi Kothandaraman, Paranidharan Vaikuntavasan, Velazhahan Rethinasamy*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum capsici, is a major disease of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) affecting both fruit and seed quality. The pathogen is both internally and externally seedborne. However, a rapid and sensitive method for detection of this pathogen in seeds is currently limited. In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was developed for specific and sensitive detection of C. capsici in chilli seeds and fruits. The developed SCAR primers were highly specific to C. capsici and resulted in the amplification of an expected 250-bp fragment from genomic DNA of all seven of the C. capsici isolates tested. No amplification occurred when the SCAR primers were tested with genomic DNA from three other fungal isolates and four other Colletotrichum species. The SCAR primers successfully amplified similar sized fragments from DNA derived from C. capsici-infected chilli fruits. The molecular detection sensitivity of C. capsici was 1 pg of purified C. capsici DNA template and 25 ng of DNA from C. capsici-infected chilli fruits. A real-time PCR assay was also developed using SYBR Green chemistry for detection of C. capsici in chilli fruits and seeds. The standard curve obtained showed a linear correlation between copy number of the cloned target DNA sequence of C. capsici and cycle threshold (Ct) values, with R2 of 0.98. These PCR-based assays may be highly useful in detection of this important pathogen in chilli seeds and fruits in plant quarantine laboratories.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)437-444
Number of pages8
JournalPhytoparasitica
Volume42
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anthracnose
  • Molecular detection
  • Polymerase chain reaction
  • SCAR marker
  • Sequence characterized amplified region

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science
  • Insect Science

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