A simple polymerase chain reaction analysis for the rapid

identification of Penicillium species

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------V.Koteswara Rao*, B. Aruna, S.Girisham &S.M.Reddy
Department of Microbiology, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana, India
*koti_micro08@yahoo.co.in
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fungi have unique characteristics that can make it difficult to identify and classify
species based on morphology. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal
RNA genes sequences for fungal taxa not only address these difficulties in identifying and
classifying fungal species by morphology. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, added of
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of ITS (ITS1&ITS4) rDNA is proposed as a
useful tool for molecular identification of species of Penicillia that amplified ribosomal
sequences generating products followed by enzymatic digestion with EcoRI. A total of 97
isolates were analysed, showed successful in separating 11 species and 19 unique Penicillium
sequences were produced including, P.chrysogenum (JX519338), P.citrinum (JX519339),
P.brevicompactum (JX519340), P.roqueforti (JX519341), P.expansum (JX519342), P.camemberti
(JX519343),

P.nalgiovense

(JX519344),

P.commune

(JX519345),

P.griseofulvum (JX519346),

P.dipodomyis (JX519347) and P.alli (JX519348). The method is sensitive, rapid and inexpensive and

can be used for isolate identification of the Penicillium at the species level. It is recommended
particularly when many isolates have to be authentificated prior to analysis for phylogenetic
assessment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------