Use of electrophoresis to distinguish teliospores of Tilletia controversa from T. tritici
As it is difficult to distinguish morphologically teliospores of common bunt of wheat (Tilletia tritici) from dwarf bunt (Tilletia controversa - EPPO A2 quarantine pest), the authors have tried to identify a stable biochemical marker by analyzing protein preparations from the two fungi. Teliospores from 12 races of T. tritici and 12 isolates of T. controversa were sampled in the field from several cultivars of wheat (Tricicum aestivum) artificially inoculated. Proteins of teliospores were extracted and analyzed by electrophoresis. The authors have found that a 116 kD polypeptide was always present in T. controversa teliospores, but absent in T. tritici. The authors concluded that this 116 kD polypeptide could be a useful marker for identification of T. controversa teliospores in wheat shipments.
Sources
Banowetz, G.M.; Doss, R.P. (1994) A comparison of polypeptides from teliospores of Tilletia controversa (Khun) and Tilletia tritici (Bjerk) Wint.
Journal of Phytopathology, 140 (4), 285-292.