RAPD Analysis of Pathogenic Variability in Ascochyta rabiei

Thirty Italian isolates of the phytopathogenic fungus Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr., the causal organism of Ascochyta blight on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), were analysed by a random oligonucleotide primer dependent polymerase chain, reaction (PCR) technique called random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) using three decamer primers. In previous investigations these isolates had been differentiated in six pathogenic groups. RAPD results were summarized in an analysis using the program PAUP. With each of the primers several amplification products were observed which were common to all isolates. The results of the RAPD analyses also showed that all isolates could be identified by a unique RAPD pattern. No correlation between RAPD patterns and the division of the isolates in pathogenic groups could be established. The application of the RAPD technique for cataloguing isolates and to obtain specific genetic markers for all isolates of the species Ascochyta rabiei is discussed.