화학공학소재연구정보센터
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol.104, No.21, 9363-9385, 2020
New multiplex conventional PCR and quadruplex real-time PCR assays for one-tube detection ofPhyllosticta citricarpa,Elsinoe fawcettii,Elsinoe australis, andPseudocercospora angolensisinCitrus: development and validation
Phyllosticta citricarpa,Elsinoe fawcettii,Elsinoe australis, andPseudocercospora angolensisare major pathogens of citrus crops worldwide and can cause non-characteristic symptoms that may lead to confusion regarding the causative agent.These fungi are subject to international phytosanitary regulations, and testing on fruits or leaves requires accurate and easy-to-use tools. New multiplex conventional PCR and real-time PCR assays were developed here to achieve highly accurate simultaneous detection of all four fungal pathogens in fruit tissues. We designed new oligonucleotide combinations forP. citricarpa,E. fawcettii, andE. australisand combined them with already available primers and hydrolysis probes to be used in either PCR assay. The limit of detection for multiplex conventional PCR was as low as 100 pg mu L(-1)forP. citricarpa,E. fawcettii, andE. australisand 10 pg mu L(-1)of target DNA per reaction tube forP. angolensis.The quadruplex real-time PCR assay successfully yielded repeatable positive results with as low as 242, 243, 241, and 242 plasmidic copies of target DNA ofP. citricarpa,E. fawcettii,E. australis, andP. angolensis, respectively. Moreover, analysis of 60 naturally infected citrus samples yielded 100% concordant results by both assays. Our validation experiment revealed that the multiplex real-time PCR assay showed high specificity except a cross-reaction withP. paracitricarpaDNA. Sensitivity, repeatability, reproducibility, and robustness were verified, and the assay could be used following different DNA extraction procedures, supporting fitness for routine analysis. These new multiplex tools should be of great interest as cost-effective solutions for regulatory authorities and diagnostic laboratories, enabling testing for four important pathogens in single-tube reactions.