Accurate delimitation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Phanerochaete sordida by specific PCR primers and cultural approach

White rot fungi, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Phanerochaete sordida, have been mostly studied in a variety of industrial processes like biopulping and pulp bleaching as well as in bioremediation. Whereas P. sordida is widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone, P. chrysosporium is reported in the restricted area and hundreds of reports have been described from a few strains of P. chrysosporium, which are deposited at various fungal collections in the world. The isolates of two species are not easily discriminated because of their morphological and molecular similarity. Through the ITS sequence analyses, a region containing substantial genetic variation between the two species was identified. PCR amplification using two specific primers was successfully used to differentiate P. chrysosporium from P. sordida. These results were supported by cultural studies. The growth rates at 37 degrees C on PDA, MEA, and Cza and the microscopic features of conidia on PDA and YMA were also very useful to differentiate those two species.